Top speed mercy dash to hospital saves pal's life after brutal stabbing

Keiran McAlpine, of Cross Street, Dysart, stabbed George Courts outside a shop in Lochgelly, minutes after being involved in an altercation with him.

A fight had broken out and after coming off worse, McAlpine had left the scene then returned accompanied by a 16-year-old youth and stabbed Mr Courts, leaving him fighting for his life.

McAlpine (20) was seen beckoning his 23-year-old victim to a part of the street which was not covered by CCTV before stabbing him, with the wound piercing his abdomen and liver.

The stabbing was witnessed by friends of Mr Court, Kieran Foy and Reece Tweedie, both 22,

They helped the injured man into Mr Tweedie’s car and rushed him to the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.

Mr Tweedie drove at top speed while Mr Foy held a tee-shirt against his friend’s wound to stem the blood flow.

They had to stop on the way to allow the victim to be sick and then they carried him into the accident and emergency department on reaching the hospital.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Thursday (April 27), Sheriff Charles MacNair praised the actions of Mr Foy, from Cowdenbeath, and Mr Tweedie, from Lochgelly.

The sheriff said: “Between the two of you, you probably saved his life. You should feel very proud of yourselves.”

After the stabbing, McAlpine went home to put his clothes and the knife into his washing machine.

After a four-day trial, a jury unanimously found McAlpine guilty of three charges.

On April 30 last year at Knockhill Close, Lochgelly, he assaulted George Courts by striking him on the body with a knife to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

On the same day at Francis Street, Knockhill Close and elsewhere he was in possession of a knife in a public place.

He was also convicted of putting his clothes and the knife in the washing machine at his then home in Francis Street, Lochgelly, in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

During the trial, McAlpine blamed the stabbing on the youth was with him.

The youth, now 17, answered “no comment” to all questions put to him in the witness box.

The jury took around 30 minutes to find McAlpine guilty. Sheriff MacNair called for reports and McAlpine was remanded in custody until sentencing on May 16.

Mr Courts, a painter and decorator, from Ballingry, has since made a full recovery.

Reece Tweedie said: “The doctors told us if we’d waited for an ambulance George probably wouldn’t have survived because he was losing so much blood.”

Kieran Foy said: “It was a terrible experience for anyone to see and it’s been hanging over all of us since. We’re all just happy that George came through it.”