PHILIPSBURG--A man was taken to St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) in critical condition after having been stabbed repeatedly on Walter Nisbeth Road, commonly known as the Pond Fill, outside the GEBE building. The incident happened shortly before 4:00pm.
Bystanders saved the victim's life by applying a tourniquet to stem what was believed to be an arterial bleed, possibly of the femoral artery.
People had been waiting near GEBE when they heard someone say that a fight was ongoing. The man who helped the victim said that he walked past and saw a number of men. One of the men was bleeding, and he wondered why the other men did not help him. He then saw a small knife and realised what had happened. As he approached the group, the man with the knife ran off.
The man saw that the victim was bleeding heavily and had multiple stab wounds on the legs, with blood spurting out of one of the wounds. Aided by another bystander, a woman, he used both his own belt as well as hers to place tourniquets on both of the man's legs.
The police were called and they, in turn, called an ambulance. "The ambulance would have been faster if people would have dialled 912, the dedicated ambulance number, rather than the police number, 911," a woman in the crowd said.
When asked how he knew what to do, the 41-year-old man who had placed the tourniquet stated that he had been in the army for six years. He did not want to have his photograph taken or give his name.
The incident left the Good Samaritan covered in blood, and someone fetched him a bucket of water to clean his hands. His white trainers were also covered in blood. Paramedics told the man that he had saved the victim's life.
Detectives, uniformed officers and the Forensics Department were at the scene and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
A police report about the incident stated that "on the scene, the investigating officers encountered a man with the initials R.D.C. (38) lying on the ground and who was bleeding from several stab wounds to his back and lower right leg. The victim was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to the St. Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. The victim was stabilised, but could not give a statement due to his condition." The statement further mentioned that "the suspect in the case still remains unknown and has not yet been arrested."
After initial treatment on the scene, the victim was taken to SMMC by paramedics and by a Windward Islands Emergency Medical Services (WIEMS) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). After completing their EMT course, certified people have to complete a minimum of 40 hours as a trainee on an ambulance, giving them hands-on experience.
At the time of press, the victim was at SMMC in a stable condition and detectives are expecting to be able to speak to the man today, Saturday.
Anyone with any information about the incident is requested to contact the Detectives Department at Philipsburg Police Station or call the anonymous tip line at tel. 9300.
