A FORMER soldier described how he fought for his life against a man armed with a knife and another attacker.

Hospital care assistant Darren King was attacked by the pair - both possibly drug addicts - as he walked to work in Middlesbrough, yesterday.

It may have been only his thick padded coat and self defence skills learnt as a soldier that saved the 33-year-old from serious injury.

Mr King said it was thoughts of his fiancee and their plans to marry that helped him fight back.

The attackers had approached him, one asking for a light.

"I put both my hands in my pockets, a stupid mistake. I was looking for my lighter, when the first one stabbed me in the shoulder.

"I would have given him my wallet - I had a tenner in it - and my mobile, which is insured, without fighting for it. They did not say anything; they were just out to hurt me.''

The 33-year-old ex Green Howards infantryman grabbed the knifeman in a head lock and punched him in the face at which his accomplice kicked him on the back of the knees, in a bid to force Mr King to the ground.

Mr King, who is getting married in August, said: "To be honest, all I could think of was my fiancee, Laura. I thought, if I go down on the ground I am going to be seriously hurt - and I didn't want to lose her."

He released his hold on the knife-wielding attacker and grabbed the legs of the second thug. It was then the knifeman lunged at Mr King, driving the blade into his shoulder, throwing him against a wall.

"It knocked me back against the wall - it was more like a punch than a knife," said the former soldier, who managed to punch the knifeman in the side of the face and, with that, make his escape.

"I know I was extremely lucky," said Middlesbrough- born Mr King.

He made his own way to the town's James Cook University Hospital, where he received treatment to a knife puncture wound to the shoulder.

Detective Constable Denise Knox said the attack was nasty and unprovoked.

She said: "These two men seem to have taken on the wrong target - a man who managed to give as good as he got."

She appealed to commuters or anyone who saw the assault in Marton Road, Middlesbrough, shortly after 7am yesterday, to contact the police on (01642) 303126 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.