The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Couple saved stranger’s life
A COUPLE have today told how they saved the life of a stranger who knocked on their door after he was stabbed.
Harleen and Rex Werewolf were at their North Shields home during the early hours of Saturday morning when they heard someone banging on the door and a man’s voice shouting for help.
And after opening the door the horrified couple were confronted by a seriously injured man who fell into their home, covered in blood.
Recalling pieces of knowledge from first aid training she had done years ago, Harleen applied pressure to the man’s gaping slash wound with a tea towel as Rex phoned for help.
And the 28-year-old desperately tried to keep the stranger awake and conscious as they waited for paramedics to arrive.
The 35-year-old casualty was taken to hospital with serious injuries and police confirmed on Saturday that they believe he had been stabbed.
And today as the investigation to find those responsible continues, Rex and Harleen have told of their pride and relief at being able to help save his life.
Harleen said: “I don’t know how I stayed so calm, but I just did. I just didn’t like the idea of someone dying if we could help. Hopefully somebody is still breathing because of what we did.”
And Rex, 33, added: “He kept saying over and over again: ‘I don’t want to die, please don’t let me die.’
“Harleen saved that man’s life. I was so proud of her. I love her to bits.”
Harleen and Rex, who are engaged and have legally changed their surname, were up listening to music when the drama unfolded at around 3am.
Harleen went to investigate after hearing a noise at the front door of their home, on Spencer Street.
“I heard the front door and I heard somebody say ‘help me I have been stabbed, someone please help me.’ From the tone of the voice I knew someone was in pain.”
Harleen opened the door and to her horror a stranger staggered in and then slumped against the wall.
“His clothes were covered in blood,” she said. “My mind was all over the place. I told Rex to call an ambulance and I took him into the front room. I grabbed a tea towel and told him to hold that where the wound was and to put pressure on it.”
But when Harleen realised the injured man did not have the strength to hold his own wound she realised she would have to do more to help.
Recalling some of the first aid training she did as a sea cadet, she got to work to try and stop the bleeding.
“I sat him down on the sofa and opened his shirt,” she continued. “I saw a slash wound and I took the tea towel and put pressure on it. I had some first aid training when I was in the Sea Cadets, but I have also got a friend who is training to be a nurse and little bits of information she told me came back.”
Meanwhile Rex was on the phone to a 999 operator who was asking questions about the victim, but the man was unable to answer them.
“There was a massive pool of blood on the floor,” he said. “At one point his head slumped to the side and I thought he had died.”
Around 10 minutes later police arrived and took over from Harleen.
People from Spencer Street told The Chronicle they believe the man was stabbed at nearby Alexander Scott Park and staggered to their street injured.
Detectives from Northumbria Police are appealing for witnesses, and also want to hear from anyone who was passing through the area at the time and could have dashcam footage. Anyone with information is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting NP-20210911-0167, or via the force’s website.