A young dad who spent Christmas in hospital after being stabbed after a night out was close to death, say his family.

More than 60 wellwishers have visited Daniel Lupton, 25, from Rochester, who had major surgery to save his organs after the attack.

His dad Terry, 53, and mum Sharon, 52, had dreams of a quiet break shattered by a phone call after Daniel was stabbed as he left the Casino Rooms.

The former pupil at Oaklands Primary and Walderslade Boys (now Greenacre), Chatham, had been partying at the Frisky Fridays night before Christmas.

Police said an incident spilled from the club into Blue Boar Lane, Rochester, at 2.50am on Saturday, December 22.

Terry said: “He knew he had serious injuries and he was begging people to take him to hospital. Apparently there was no ambulance available so they took him in a police car.

“He had internal bleeding so the surgeons had to open him up top to bottom. He was in a very bad way.”

Terry has urged anyone who saw the attack to tell police.
His son, who has a six-month-old daughter and works as a sub-contractor for Thames Water with his brother Darren, 31, may be off work for months.

Fitness fan Darren, who goes to the gym six times a week, is thought to have suffered four stab wounds to his hip, torso, shoulder and forearm. He is expected to remain in hospital for several days.

A police spokesman said: “The victim in the incident at the Casino Rooms has been in surgery and is in recovery, speaking and doing well.”

A 24-year-old Sittingbourne man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and released on bail until March 1 while enquiries continue.

Casino Rooms owner Aaron Stone said a knife was found in the street outside the nightclub, adding: “We remain fully committed to public safety.”