Hero prefect is stabbed at school gates by pit bull gang

Darcey Menezes, 16, almost died after being struck six times in the back, chest and leg at the gates of his school.

He had remonstrated with the gang after they sent the dog into the playground as the Roman Catholic college emptied at the end of the day.

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It had chased scores of pupils around the highly-regarded Salesian College in Battersea, South West London, before Darcey acted.

He was set upon on the pavement outside the school and saved only by the intervention of a teacher who chased off his attackers.

Last night Darcey was in a stable condition in hospital. The attack took place on Thursday.

Shocked friends described him as a model pupil who was not scared to stand up to bullies.

"That is exactly the sort of thing he would do because he was a really decent person, which is why he is a senior prefect," said one friend who did not wish to be named.

"It was really terrifying because the pit bull was running around the playground barking at people and trying to bite them.

"It chased one boy actually-into the school. I don't know why they did it. They just thought it would be funny. I also heard they were also looking for someone.

"But Darcey went up to them and told them to call their dog off. It was a really brave thing to do, but they did not like it and they stabbed him straight away.

"He fell down and wasn't really moving. There was blood everywhere.

"One of the male teachers ran outside and pushed the boys away and they ran off."

Darcey's uncle, Jose, said Darcey's mother and father - Maria and Joao, both 44 - were at his hospital bedside.

"Darcey is a great kid and I can't believe something this terrible has happened at his school," said the 45-year-old.

"You think children would be safe at school, but obviously this isn't the case nowadays.

"He's a lovely happy boy who always says hello and has lots of friends."

Friends said that Darcey was made senior prefect because he was very well behaved at school and was on track to get good grades in his GCSEs.

His father is said to be a hospital worker. Six youths, aged 13 to 17, have been arrested.