A man has died after he was attacked in a village in County Durham, police have confirmed.
Kelloe, a former pit village, is said to be on lockdown and a police manhunt under way for the attacker.
The victim was taken to the James Cook University hospital in Middlesbrough, where he died a short time later.
Officers were called to reports of an attack in Kelloe on Wednesday afternoon. A North East Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called at 2pm to a serious incident in Front Street in Kelloe. A man in his 20s appeared to have significant stab wounds to his chest and stomach.”
Paramedics arrived within five minutes and were joined by the air ambulance, who had a doctor on board. “Their doctor decided he should stay in the ambulance and he was driven to hospital,” the ambulance service spokesman said.
“The doctor also went in the ambulance so he could work on him on the way. The man was in a serious condition.”
The incident is thought to have happened close to a hairdresser’s and the Kelloe Working Men’s Club.
Witnesses told the Northern Echo that armed officers, backed by a helicopter, had carried out a search of the village looking for the assailant. At least one property was said to have been raided by officers during the search.
One witness, who did not want to be named, told the Press Association: “About 1.45pm I saw lots of police cars and an ambulance heading to the village.
“I saw lots of police officers getting changed into their armed response gear. Apparently there was a young man in his 30s stabbed. They had the police helicopter up and they’re still looking for the guy who did it.”
