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Mugged teenager thrown into canal Mugged teenager thrown into canal
(about 5 hours later)
A teenager was mugged and then thrown unconscious into a canal when he was attacked in Greater Manchester. A teenager was mugged and then thrown unconscious into a canal in an attack Greater Manchester.
The victim was walking home at 2350 BST on Friday towards the centre of Stalybridge when he was hit on the back of the head. Sam Sykes, 17, was walking home on Friday night towards the centre of Stalybridge when he was hit.
The blow knocked him unconscious as his attackers stole his wallet and a mobile phone before throwing him into the canal. The blow knocked him unconscious as his attackers stole his wallet and a phone before throwing him into the canal.
The teenager regained consciousness and managed to climb out alone. The teenager regained consciousness and managed to climb out. Det Supt Dave Loughlin said the attackers had "left him for dead".
Raised alarm As I hit the water, I came back round and I thought 'I've got to get out' Sam Sykes
He then raised the alarm at a nearby pub. Police said a group of men had stopped the teenager as he walked along Caroline Street and asked for a cigarette before attacking him.
Police said a group of men had stopped the victim as he walked along Caroline Street and asked for a cigarette before attacking him. Sam said: "I felt a smack to my jaw and everything started going hazy.
The one who struck him is described as white, in his early to mid 20s, about 5ft 8in tall with short black hair and an oval-shaped face. "They went through my pockets and I was trying to sort myself out when they threw me in the canal.
One of the other offenders was also white, 6ft tall, in his early 20s, with skinny build. The third, who was on a bike, was aged 14 or 15, of skinny build and wearing a black tracksuit. "As I hit the water, I came back round and I thought 'I've got to get out'."
Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone who saw the incident is asked to call police or Crimestoppers. Sam raised the alarm at a nearby pub. He suffered facial injuries.
The one who struck him is described as white, in his early to mid 20s, about 5ft 8in (1.72m) tall with short black hair and an oval-shaped face.
One of the other offenders was also white, 6ft tall (1.82m) in his early 20s, with a skinny build.
The third, who was on a bike, was aged 14 or 15, of skinny build and wearing a black tracksuit.