A Lidl shopper is in a critical condition after being stabbed in the back near the supermarket.
The 33–year-old victim was leaving a branch in Torquay at 12.45pm yesterday when his car was approached and kicked by three men.
He got out the car and was chased across a road where the assault took place.
The victim was left with a serious stab wound to his back and was taken to hospital where he was initially placed in a medically induced coma.
He remains in a critical but stable condition, Devon Live reports.
Police are investigating the serious assault.
It is believed everyone involved is known to each other.
The area surrounding a property opposite the car park was cordoned off as police investigated the scene until around 4pm.
An eyewitness said he saw the incident unfold when two men approached another man coming out of the supermarket carrying some shopping.
The fight took place on the pavement and one man grabbed a shopping bag and ran up the road, before he was apparently chased down and stabbed in his side.
The stabbing happened outside a woman's house, but she told Devon Live she did not see or hear the incident at the time.
She said: "We are decorating the back of the house I had all the doors shut and the music on.
"I only heard afterwards that there had been a stabbing."
Meanwhile neighbours Graham and Sheila Horton said: "We heard shouting at about lunchtime but we didn’t investigate.
"The police came and they were searching with dogs around the John Parkes unit opposite.
"We’ve had all kinds of incidents outside but we’ve never had a stabbing. There’s always something going on."
A force incident manager from Devon & Cornwall Police said: "A crime scene has been established in relation to a male who was stabbed earlier.
"It was a man in his early 30s. He is in hospital with serious injuries."
Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101@dc.police.uk or by phone on 101, quoting crime reference CR/047474/19.
Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org
