The heroic Nottingham Forest fan who courageously saved the lives of others by confronting the Huntington train stabber has said he “just did what anyone else would do”. The nation has hailed Stephen Crean as a hero since his brave actions during Saturday’s (November 1) brutal mass stabbing on a train heading towards Huntingdon station.
However, he insists he’s “just a normal guy”. The Londoner had been to watch Forest v Manchester United and boarded the LNER service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross in Grantham. Just 20 minutes later Mr Crean became aware that something wasn’t right. He recalls frantic people running past hime “shouting there’s a bloke with a knife” before coming face to face with the knifeman.
Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live Mr Crean said: “The dors to our carriage opened and loads of people started running past me.
“They were shouting there’s a bloke with a knife and everyone headed down to the bottom of the train where the buffet bar was but I couldn’t get in there and the toilets seemed full.
“I got to the stage where it was me and him in confrontation. He was waving this blade in my face and he said ‘do you want to die’ to me three times.”
In a bid to save others the Forest fan heroically grabbed the knifeman’s arm, before the individual allegedly hit back by slicing the top of Mr Crean’s head.
Mr Crean even remembers grabbing the knifeman’s blade. After fleeing the attack Mr Crean took shelter in an empty toilet on the train and tried to stop his heavy bleeding.
He remained in the cubical until the train was diverted to Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire, shortly before 8pm.
The Reds fan was rushed to hospital where he received stitches, his head and hands were also wrapped up in bandages.
At 8am the following morning, November 2, Mr Crean returned to London and is now being treated at his local hospital with his bandages expected to be removed by the end of the week.
Despite his selfless actions Mr Crean insists he is not “special”.
“There’s other people much worse off than me – I’ve probably done my bit, but I wouldn’t say I’m anything special.
“I was able to slow the attacker down and I’ve got no regrets. I’m injured and I’m sore but so be it, I can get that repaired”.
And now Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has pledged to personally fund the medical care of any fans injured in a horrific stabbing incident.
In a statement shared by the club, Marinakis said Nottingham Forest was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the events and would ensure no fan was left without proper medical care.
However, Mr Crean wil not be taking the club up on their offer as he says “others might need it more than me”.
The train was packed with people on Saturday evening when the stabbings began. 11 people were taken to hospital, and one member of staff who stepped in to protect others is still fighting for his life.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed on Monday morning that the injured train worker is in a “critical but stable condition”. She told Times Radio: “There are five people still in hospital, one of whom is the member of train crew, who this morning is in a critical but stable condition.
Anthony Williams, 32, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of bladed article following the attacks.
He is also charged with another count of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in connection to an incident on a train at Pontoon Dock DLR station in east London in the early hours of the same day, where a victim suffered facial injuries after being attacked with a knife.
Williams, from Peterborough, will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court later today.