BLADE ATTACK IN THE PARK
Good Samaritan slashed by thug
A man was slashed by a drunk he tried to help while walking through a Cambuslang park.
Andrew William Smith, 29, was heading to his mother’s house through Quarryfield Park just before 7pm on Friday evening. He heard a male shouting for help but when Andrew went to assist the man to his feet, the thug struck him on the face with a weapon.
The impact left a cut across Andrew’s face and doctors say he will carry a scar.
Andrew posted of his ordeal on Facebook, with members of the community reacting with shock and anger.
He has now told the Reformer more must be done to make that park safe to stop someone else being attacked in a similar manner.
A community has been left shocked after a man was slashed in a park while he tried to help his attacker.
Andrew William Smith, 29, was walking through Quarryfield Park on Friday night on his way to his mum’s.
He heard a male shouting for help, but when he went to his aid, the suspect cut his face.
Andrew was taken to Hairmyres Hospital where he received stitches for two wounds.
The incident is likely to leave Andrew with a light scar on his face.
Describing his ordeal, Andrew said he wanted to warn other park users.
He said: “It was round about 6.45pm and I was walking to my mothers house through the park. I heard a man shouting for help and went over to him and see if he was okay.
“He seemed drunk and I just thought I could help him to his feet but before I knew it, he had spun round and taken a weapon to my face.
“It was sore, I felt the wound and I was in shock.
“I think it could happen again. South Lanarkshire Council have got a lot to say on this, there was no light working in the park and it was black.
“You can’t see anything and I think they should be thinking of putting cameras in.”
Inspector Bob Bryce at Rutherglen Police said inquiries into the attack were ongoing.
He added: “This was an isolated incident.
“Our local problem solving team patrol all the parks in the local area.”
The suspect is described as being a while male with a tanned complexion, 50-55 years old, around 6ft and with a medium build.
He spoke with an Eastern European accent and had a gold tooth in the right hand side of his mouth.
He was wearing a black bomber jacked , ripped jeans and white trainers.
Residents living near the park took to social media to express their outrage at the incident, with many saying the park suffers from poor lighting and overgrown bushes which provide places to hide.
Natalie Sutherland, whose house looks out on to Quarryfield, told the Reformer: “The lighting is all in the trees so there are parts that are pitch black and in other parts there is overgrown shrubbery so you don’t know what is there.
“It was a really shocking incident, It could be a lovely park but it’s been quite neglected.”
An inspection of lighting at Quarryfield Park is now expected to take place while bushes and shrubs will be cut back as part of the annual winter maintenance programme which is currently underway.
Frank McCafferty, head of property services with South Lanarkshire Council said: “In response to reports of anti social behaviour, Quarryfield Park has been a regular patrol area for the council’s community warden team, including mobile CCTV, since October 2016.”