THE VICTIM of a brutal knife attack at the hands of a dangerous schizophrenic believes he is lucky to be alive.

Robert Healy had a serrated kitchen knife plunged into his ribcage by 25-year-old Christopher Garrett, of Woodbine Road, Blackwood, following a dispute over a £10 debt.

Doctors told Mr Healy he was lucky to be alive because the blade was deflected away from his vital organs after striking one of his ribs.

Mr Healy, 19, of Coronation Road, Blackwood, spoke of his relief after learning his attacker had been sentenced to life imprisonment following the horrific incident outside a friend's house on December 30 last year.

"It was a bit of a worry to think he might come out on bail if it went to trial, but now I can put it behind me - it's a big relief that he is in prison," said Mr Healy.

"All I saw was the flash of a blade. When he stabbed me I grabbed my friends and shoved them inside the house and shut the door behind me. "I think he would have stabbed me again if he got the chance.

"I'm just glad he didn't get one of my friends as well - he could have done anything.

"I didn't feel anything in the beginning, but soon I couldn't speak because of the pain."

Mr Healy was taken to hospital for emergency treatment to the gaping wound, which allowed air into the chest cavity, but the blade missed his vital organs.

After fleeing from the scene, Garrett was arrested later that day at his home, where he was found crying and so drunk he could barely stand. Mr Healy added: "If he got me in the right place I could have died - it was just lucky it missed all the major valves. The knife hit a rib and went away from my organs.

"We knew he had been to prison but none of us thought he could stab anyone. I now think he is the kind of person that likes to cause pain to people.

"I think it is a bit silly that somebody like that was allowed to walk the streets.

"The next time something like this happens with him, they could die."