Train knifeman asked football fan who challenged him: 'Do you want to die?'

A man hailed as one of the heroes of the Huntingdon train attacks has described how the knifeman asked him "Do you want to die?" when he confronted him.

Stephen Crean, 61, told the Telegraph how he got up from his seat and approached the attacker with nothing but his fists as fellow passengers ran the other way.

Mr Crean was returning home from watching Nottingham Forest draw 2-2 with Manchester United at the time of the incident.

He told the newspaper: “All of a sudden the door of the carriage opened, people ran past me and they were shouting: ‘Run, run, run, man’s got knife’,” he said.

“So I let these people run past me, families, women, young lads.

“Finally they had all packed into the buffet car and the toilets and locked the doors, as you do, and so that was it for me."

Mr Crean said as the attacker waved his knife, he tried to punch him.

“I was trying to hold his arm, but he caught me on the top of the head.”

Police have said three earlier knife incidents, including the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy, are being linked and investigated in connection to the train attacks.

Mr Crean said after being stabbed six times, he managed to lock himself in a train bathroom until armed police arrived.

“My motive was to protect people. I was scared, but then [the fear] went away. You just do whatever, you just go with it.”

It was also revealed on Monday that a professional footballer was among the victims.

Scunthorpe United defender Jonathan Gjoshe sustained non life-threatening injuries but remains in hospital, the club said.

The 22-year-old, who signed for the club in September, was slashed across the bicep and has had to have an operation in hospital, it was reported.

“Scunthorpe United can confirm registered player Jonathan Gjoshe was one of the victims affected by the shocking attack on an LNER train bound for London on Saturday evening,” a club statement said.

“We can confirm that Jonathan sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the attack, but currently remains in hospital," said a spokesman, offering the club's condolences to all victims.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know