POLICE have praised leisure centre staff who tackled a restaurant worker suspected of carrying out a terrifying stabbing at a public gym.

Twenty-year-old Dale Pipe was locked in a changing room after being restrained by staff at Belle Vue Leisure Centre in Consett, County Durham.

Mr Pipe, who lives nearby at The Grove, is suspected of attacking Josh Henley, from Consett, at around 2.15pm on Monday.

The 22-year-old was air-lifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries after suffering multiple stab wounds to the head, neck and chest.

Consett Inspector Chris Davis last night (Tuesday, January 29) paid tribute to the bravery of the staff who restrained the suspect.

He said: “They reacted to the incident and trapped the suspect in the changing rooms until police got there.

“Other members of staff administered first aid to the victim until paramedics arrived to treat him.

“Their actions no doubt kept other users of the leisure centre safe and ensured a speedy arrest and resolution to the incident.”

Members of the public were evacuated during the incident, including a number of elderly people who were on the premises at the time.

Mr Pipe has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder while Mr Henley remains in the RVI in Newcastle, where he is described as being in a ‘poorly’ condition.

Durham county councillor Stephen Robinson said he knew both men and wished Mr Henley a speedy recovery.

He said: “What has happened here is very worrying. It is frightening that something like this can take place. It is horrendous. My thoughts are with the lad who has been attacked and his family.”

The centre remained closed and cordoned off yesterday (Tuesday, January 29).

The incident has stunned gym regulars. One 25-year-old, who asked not to be named, said: “It is a shock. This is the first time anything like this has happened here. This is normally a friendly gym. It won’t stop me coming here though.”

The centre is run by Leisureworks, a trust which runs sports and arts centre in the former Derwentside are, which said it would not comment given the ongoing police inquiry.

Customers are asked to log on to www.leisureworks.net for information about when it will reopen.

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