A mum says she feared she would die in front of her children after being stabbed five times in a residential street.

Makala O’Brien was airlifted to Kings College Hospital in London after the incident in New Romney.

Police were called following reports the mother-of-four had been assaulted at 5.40pm on Sunday, October 1

The 42-year-old told KentOnline she was stabbed once in the abdomen, twice on the right side of her chest and twice on her right arm.

She said: “I was laying out on the floor under the tree and my 17-year-old son was saying ‘Mum, please don't die’.

“I kept fighting to keep my eyes open and to stay awake because I kept thinking ‘your kids need you’.

“I was airlifted to Kings and that's when they found the extra wounds under my chest.

“I didn’t feel them all because it all happened so quickly.

“I was in so much pain and then I was pumped with painkillers.”

Miss O’Brien says the stab wounds to her abdomen caused internal bleeding and she spent four days in hospital in London before being discharged into respite care.

She had been staying with her mother and her children Marley, 17, Dylan, 11, Eloise, eight, and Joshua, five, after being made homeless 18 months ago.

She is now having to live away from her family while she recovers, something she says is “heartbreaking”.

“My poor children had to see the whole thing,” she added.

“They have been so brave and I have asked for them to get help with the trauma.

“I’m having nightmares, I'm worried for my children, I'm not sleeping well.

“The children have been staying with their auntie while I recover and I’m on bed rest.

“I’m desperate to have a home for my children, I need to be with them.”

A police spokesperson confirmed they had been called to reports a woman had been assaulted in Marsh Crescent.

They added: “Officers attended along with South East Coast Ambulance Service and the woman was taken to a London hospital with injuries consistent with stab wounds.

“A 38-year-old woman, who is understood to be known to the victim, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault.

“She was later bailed pending further enquiries.

“An investigation into the incident is ongoing.”