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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Wife's fears over stabbed officer | Wife's fears over stabbed officer |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The wife of a police community support officer (PCSO) who was stabbed in the neck in Greater Manchester has revealed she thought he was going to die. | The wife of a police community support officer (PCSO) who was stabbed in the neck in Greater Manchester has revealed she thought he was going to die. |
| Gary Etchells, of Glossop, Derbyshire, had been helping a housing organisation serve an eviction notice in Stalybridge when he was stabbed in the neck. | Gary Etchells, of Glossop, Derbyshire, had been helping a housing organisation serve an eviction notice in Stalybridge when he was stabbed in the neck. |
| He underwent two operations on Monday night and is in intensive care. | He underwent two operations on Monday night and is in intensive care. |
| Police said the 47-year-old began to breathe on his own at Tameside General Hospital on Tuesday. | Police said the 47-year-old began to breathe on his own at Tameside General Hospital on Tuesday. |
| Mr Etchells, who has four sons aged between nine and 19, was attempting to serve the notice on a property at Elizabeth Avenue, when the attack took place. | Mr Etchells, who has four sons aged between nine and 19, was attempting to serve the notice on a property at Elizabeth Avenue, when the attack took place. |
| On Tuesday, his wife Andie described him as a "caring, generous and genuine man". | On Tuesday, his wife Andie described him as a "caring, generous and genuine man". |
| "I was worried I was going to lose him yesterday but thank God he is improving today," she said. | "I was worried I was going to lose him yesterday but thank God he is improving today," she said. |
| The 47 year old was helping to serve an eviction notice | The 47 year old was helping to serve an eviction notice |
| Mrs Etchells said her husband had become a PCSO in one of the first intakes a few years ago. | Mrs Etchells said her husband had become a PCSO in one of the first intakes a few years ago. |
| "He had been running a theatre before that and decided to become a PCSO because he wanted to so something more worthwhile," she said. | |
| "He thought if he didn't do it at this stage of his life, he never would. I know he is really good at his job and loves it." | "He thought if he didn't do it at this stage of his life, he never would. I know he is really good at his job and loves it." |
| Mrs Etchells also thanked the police and her husband's colleagues and friends for their support at what she said was a difficult time. | Mrs Etchells also thanked the police and her husband's colleagues and friends for their support at what she said was a difficult time. |
| Staff and bailiffs representing New Charter Housing Association had requested a police presence while they carried out the eviction on Monday morning. | Staff and bailiffs representing New Charter Housing Association had requested a police presence while they carried out the eviction on Monday morning. |
| No armour | No armour |
| Deputy Chief Constable Dave Whatton, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Police officers and the local police community support officer had arranged to attend while the eviction was being carried out. | Deputy Chief Constable Dave Whatton, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Police officers and the local police community support officer had arranged to attend while the eviction was being carried out. |
| "The police community support officer arrived before the police officers. | "The police community support officer arrived before the police officers. |
| "A conversation then took place between those present from the housing association and the police community support officer and a man. | "A conversation then took place between those present from the housing association and the police community support officer and a man. |
| "A short time later the man came out of the house and attacked those present. | "A short time later the man came out of the house and attacked those present. |
| "He lunged with a knife and cut the police community support officer on the neck." | "He lunged with a knife and cut the police community support officer on the neck." |
| Greater Manchester Police are still questioning a 63-year-old man arrested on suspicion of wounding. | Greater Manchester Police are still questioning a 63-year-old man arrested on suspicion of wounding. |
| Mr Etchells, who is among some 7,000 PCSOs across the UK, was not wearing a stab-proof vest or body armour at the time of the attack. | Mr Etchells, who is among some 7,000 PCSOs across the UK, was not wearing a stab-proof vest or body armour at the time of the attack. |