A dying father begged for help after he was fatally stabbed in an argument with a gang of youths.
Darren Kelly, 42, was set upon by five men as he walked along a suburban street near a park.
He staggered away and rang several doorbells at nearby blocks of flats before collapsing.
Residents rushed to his aid before paramedics arrived at the cul-de-sac in Basildon, Essex, but he died in hospital.
Detectives were hunting for Mr Kelly’s attackers on Wednesday night.
Carole Crisp, 56, fought back tears on Wednesday as she described how he rang on her intercom and said: “Help me, I’ve been stabbed.”
She said: “I ran downstairs and I could see he was hurt - there was blood everywhere.
“He had been stabbed in the side and arm. We did what we could but he was in a bad way.”
Neighbour John Knight, 56, said: “He was buzzing on everyone’s doors - he buzzed on mine and I was saying, “Hello hello,” but couldn’t hear anything. I didn’t know that anyone was out there.”
Divorcee Mr Kelly lived in a semi-detached house about two miles from where he was stabbed. Neighbour Colin Nicholls, 49, described him as a “lovely guy”.
He said: “It is just a very strange situation, which I am trying to take in myself.”
Mr Kelly’s ex-wife Katherine, 41, lives close by in a flat with their daughter Zoe, 20.
His niece Charlotte Rigby, 22, of Leigh-on-Sea, made a plea on Facebook to bring her uncle’s killers to justice. She said: “Need to get these disgusting people found!!! They need to be locked up and throw away the key for what they have done.”
Daily Mail