Eyewitnesses have described the moments leading up to the fatal stabbing of a Kent man in Cyprus, claiming the attack was "completely random".

George Low, 22, of Ladywood Road in Dartford, died after being stabbed in the neck in the holiday resort of Ayia Napa on Saturday night, which was due to be the final night of a week-long holiday.

His friend Ben Barker, also 22, was stabbed in the back multiple times during the same attack, but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening and he is continuing his recovery at Larnaca General Hospital.

George and Ben were in Ayia Napa for a week’s holiday and had been enjoying a bar crawl to celebrate a friend’s birthday on the night of the attack.

The pair arrived at The Bell Inn at around 12.30am, where George had helped out during his time working in the resort over the last two summers.

According to members of staff at the bar, it was around 3am when Ben went outside and was walking down a side street when he was confronted by another man. George came to his friend’s aid and the two of them chased the man off.

Having gone round to the front of the bar, the assailant returned soon after with another man and a row ensued. Ben was stabbed in the back multiple times and — upon coming to his friend’s aid — George suffered a fatal blow to the neck.

He stumbled towards the bar and pulled the knife from his neck, but collapsed in the street before members of staff could come to his aid. Ben was described as being in shock and an ambulance was called, arriving at the scene within a couple of minutes.

Staff at The Bell Inn described the entire episode as “completely random”, insisting that there had been no previous altercation between the men until the initial confrontation, and Ben has reportedly since told police that he didn't know why anyone would have reason to harm him or George.

The bar was closed on Sunday night and the management issued the following statement: “We are deeply shocked to what happened to George and his friend in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“We know it’s often said but it is never truer in this case that George truly was one of the good guys. He was just enjoying his last night of holiday. He was always happy, always joking and someone we were proud to call our friend.

“He will be truly missed. Our heartfelt condolences to his family.”

"I couldn't wish for a better son" Martyn Low

Speaking from the family home yesterday morning, George's dad, 55-year-old Martyn Low, paid tribute to his son.

He said: “He touched everyone. Everyone who knew George loved him. He was fun loving, loved people, loved life, and lived life to the full.

“I couldn’t wish for a better son. He was always playing pranks and you never knew what he was going to get up to next."

The tragedy has devastated George’s family, including mum Helen, 47, and his two brothers and two sisters – Wesley, 23, Laura, 29, Millie, 17, and Oliver, 11.

Some of them are flying out to Cyprus today in the hope of repatriating George, with more than £10,000 having been raised by friends and well-wishers to fund the costs.

Meanwhile, police on the Mediterranean island are continuing to search for two suspects, who are thought to be foreign, with increased patrols across Ayia Napa.

One suspect is described as young, short and chubby, with short hair, and wore jeans and a white shirt. The second suspect was a similar age, short in height, with short black hair and wasn’t wearing a shirt.