A young man was stabbed in the chest and both thighs during a fight between two groups in Epsom yesterday.
The victim, a 24-year-old man, was taken to St George's Hospital, in Tooting, with stab wounds, after being injured in a fight outside Santander bank in Epsom High Street at 3.45pm.
He managed to flee from the high street into Derby Square - where a member of the public called for an ambulance.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and administered first aid to the man at the horse sculpture within the Square.
Shortly after the incident, a 16-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm. He remains in custody at Salfords police station.
A second male, also aged 16, who was arrested in connection with the incident has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Steve Lucas, building manager at the Ebbisham Centre, in Derby Square, said: “The guy ran into the square as I was outside. He was screaming at me ‘mate I’ve been stabbed’.”
Mr Lucas said he saw the bloody stab wounds and telephoned the emergency services for help.
He said: “There were stab wounds to his upper legs and one in the torso. You could easily see what had happened.”
Mr Lucas said he waited with the injured man who got up again and ran towards the Slug and Lettuce at one point.
He said: “His friends came over and they were screaming and shouting. There was an awful lot going on.”
Mr Lucas described his response to the cry for help as almost automatic.
He said: “It’s not a daily occurrence, but you do have lots of incidents in the centre. It’s just part of the day.
"I didn’t know what was happening at the time.”
A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman said they sent an ambulance crew to Derby Square in response to reports of a stabbing at 3.50pm and confirmed that the victim had stab wounds to the chest and both thighs.
He said: "He was fully conscious en route to hospital but was taken as a priority."
The area from the Oxfam shop to Mountain Warehouse on the high street was cordoned off, as well as the paths running through Derby Square.
Derby square was re-opened at 7.30pm last night after scene-of-crime officers had completed their analysis and all restaurants in the Square are now open as usual.
Surrey Police is appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Inspector Paul Gordon said: "This was a violent incident which took place in a busy town centre where a number of people would have been going about their business.
"I am appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed what happened to contact police as a matter of urgency."
Anyone with information should call the police on 101, quoting reference 45130002115, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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