‘My whole life changed after being stabbed by a stranger’
VICTIM TELLS OF HORRIFIC ATTACK
A HULL man who was stabbed three times in the face and needed 55 stitches after a row with a stranger has spoken out about how his life has changed.
James Fenwick had his face slashed with a knife on Friday, September 7, after spending time drinking with friends in Terry Street in west Hull.
Mr Fenwick, 35, said he had been drinking in the city centre when he met two of his friends and Cory Eenkhoorn, who was a stranger at the time.
The foursome made their way to a property in Terry Street to continue their night shortly after. It was there that Mr Fenwick’s life changed.
He said: “After it happened, I hardly do anything like I used to do. I don’t like people staring at me, and I feel like they’re talking about me and they don’t ask what happened.”
After meeting his friends and the man in a city centre pub, they all made their way to a property in Terry Street, where things spiralled out of control.
Mr Fenwick said: “He (Eenkhoorn) was being clever. We ended up fighting.”
A row erupted between the pair leading to a dramatic conclusion when Mr Fenwick was stabbed three times in the face.
He said: “I thought he hit me three times, but he actually stabbed me. I felt three jabs to my face and he just ran. I knew I’d been stabbed when I was chasing him, but I passed out at the front door.
“I don’t remember anything, just being put in the ambulance and having an oxygen mask on me.”
Mr Fenwick was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary where he had to have 54 stitches to the outside of his face.
He said: “I woke up at about 9am and I was taken to the ward. The police came to see me to take a statement, but I didn’t know his name at first, I only knew that he was younger than me.
“I was in hospital for a week after and then went home.”
Mr Fenwick said he is staying with a friend on the Great Thornton Street estate who he said is helping him through his ordeal.
He said: “I don’t do most of what I used to and don’t like looking in the mirror. I just keep myself to myself and my friend is really helping me through it.
“I’ve spoken to one of the others who were there that night and the other stayed at the hospital the whole time with me. I remember the staff at the hospital saying they had to completely stitch up my face together with three big stitches.
“They got taken out again a week after. I’ve got no feeling in the side of my cheeks and it has done some nerve damage.”
Mr Eenkhoorn has pleaded guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm and will be sentenced at Hull Crown Court in November.
The attack has affected Mr Fenwick’s confidence and he admits he hardly goes out anymore, but wants to use his experience to warn others of the dangers of carrying a knife.
He said: “I’ve lost confidence in myself. I used to be a bubbly person. My friend said it will get back to normal, but I won’t get back to that normal where I want to look in the mirror.
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I do hope it’s bright. Whatever sentence he gets will not be long enough.
“He could have killed me, I’m lucky to be alive. I’ve never carried a blade before and would never expect anyone else to have one.
“It happens all the time and people need to learn the dangers. Anyone found carrying a knife should get sentenced. It is so dangerous.”
The Mail is backing the official No More Knives campaign by Kayleigh Pepper, whose brother was killed from a stab wound, and Humberside Police. Follow #nomoreknives