More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
The victim of a savage knife attack has described the terrifying moment he thought he was going to die.
Ryan Miskin slashed Daniel Black several times after he tried to stop Miskin from hurting a woman in the street.
Daniel recalls the night he was brutally attacked
Daniel, from Walderslade, suffered cuts to his face, throat and forehead and one of his ears was hanging off. His nose was broken and his jaw was dislocated.
As he sat bleeding, he asked for some paper to write a message to his daughter in case he didn't pull through.
After Miskin was jailed for 18 years, Daniel spoke to KentOnline about how he still suffers from flashbacks.
Daniel had been visiting his mum in London Road, Strood, on August 20 last year when he had shouted out of the window to try to stop Miskin from hurting the woman and told him he'd call the police.
Miskin then kicked the door down to get inside his mum's home.
He said: "He punched my brother and then got my mum, who is only tiny, and threw her to the ground."
Daniel said he and Miskin were both throwing punches when he suddenly felt in a lot of pain.
"He was throwing what I thought were punches and then he locked eyes with me and stopped, then he ran. He knew he had stabbed me in the throat. I turned around and when my mum saw me, she started screaming. I tried to call an ambulance but I remember saying to my mum 'I can't hear the woman'. It was because my ear was hanging off but I didn't know that at the time."
As his family rushed to his aid, Daniel feared he was going to die so asked to write something for his daughter and even told his mum his bank details.
"I was so scared. I thought I was never going to see my daughter again. You want your child to have something of you, I wanted to make sure she was taken care of. I still have the note, it was only short but I still have it. It is covered in blood.
"All my family were there with me and I thought it was a chance to say goodbye so I said my goodbyes.
"If it wasn't for my brother holding my throat, I don't know if I would still be here."
Daniel has been left with a scars across his face, neck and forehead - something he worries people will judge him for. He sometimes tells people the scars are from a childhood accident because he is concerned people will think he is a violent person.
He said: "I was just trying to protect my mum and my brother and some random girl. I wasn't going to stand by and let him do that."
Daniel said programmes like the gangster series Peaky Blinders can trigger flashbacks, adding: "I was a massive fan but they use razor blades a lot and the cuts, they look like my face did.
"Only certain things seem to trigger it. I get all hot and sweaty and make my excuses. It is disappointing because I think of myself as strong minded."
Daniel has been given counselling and help with alcohol abuse as he said he drank afterwards to cope with the trauma.
Miskin, of Wickham Street, Strood, was jailed for a series of attacks. Moments after slashing Daniel, he went on to stab another victim in the side of his head, telling him: "I am Chatham's Most Wanted!"
Miskin admitted 15 charges of wounding with intent, arson, causing criminal damage, possessing an offensive weapon and other assaults.
He was jailed for 18 years - and told he will have to serve 12 years before can apply for parole.When he is released, the judge ordered he serve another five years on licence.
The judge also issued orders preventing Miskin from contacting his victims in the future after ruling he was dangerous.
Daniel said: "I'm happy with the 18 years. It is his family I feel sorry for, because he is a dad too. They have lost him for 18 years. I just hope they are ok."
