A MAN stabbed following a petty row in the street spoke of his ordeal from his hospital bed.

John Banks, 51, was lucky to be alive after a 10in blade was plunged into his shoulder and then his back, puncturing his left lung and missing his heart by just a centimetre.

The stabbing comes just months after his younger brother was knifed to death.

Mr Banks, of Clarendon Road, Hove, was leaving his mother's house in Southall Avenue, Moulsecoomb, on Sunday at about 5pm when he got into an argument with two boys in their early teens.

He says they tried to block his path and spat at him.

The row escalated and other neighbours became involved.

Mr Banks, who is unemployed, said: "Things were getting nasty and I thought there was going to be violence.

"Then I felt a thump on my shoulder and another on my back.

"I turned round and saw someone holding a knife up.

"Then I looked under my arm and saw all this blood just pouring out.

"The pain hadn't even registered. It felt like I'd been punched but when I saw the blood I knew it was serious and started to feel faint."

The ordeal brought back horrific memories for his mother, Rosina Banks, who witnessed the attack.

Her other son, Anthony, 43, was stabbed five times in the head and neck following a domestic feud in December.

David Armstrong, 39, was acquitted of the killing last month after a jury decided he acted in self- defence.

Mrs Banks, 80, fought back tears as she said: "I heard shouting and commotion, then one of my neighbours shouted for me to come out the house because John was in trouble.

"When he was stabbed I thought, 'Please, it can't be happening again.'

"I thought he was going to die. Thank god he is still with us.

"I've lost one son. Losing another would kill me."

Mr Banks suffered a punctured lung and was today due to be transferred from the Royal East Sussex County Hospital to Guy's Hospital, London, to have a blood clot the size of a golf ball removed from the organ.

He said: "The pain for the first couple of days was excruciating.

"I still can't believe it's happened and how such a silly row could have come to this.

"The doctor said I was the luckiest man he had ever treated.

"I don't feel very lucky but I am glad to be alive. I've been treated brilliantly here.

"I just hope I'm not permanently damaged.

"Who knows what the long-term effects of having a punctured lung will be?"

A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and released on police bail.