A man who was stabbed 19 times in a random attack just minutes from his home in Stratford has "lost hope" that he will see justice.
Tom Savage, 36, was walking his dog Ichigo at around 9.04pm on August 19 in Elis Way, East Village when he was approached by a man.
He had been on the homeward stretch of the walk when he noticed the man coming out of Mirabelle Gardens Park towards him.
Tom told the Recorder: "I didn’t think anything of it and I’m normally really careful.
“He looked angry. He had his hood up, he didn’t blink - he just looked really angry."
After asking Tom if he lived locally and saying "I don't like you very much", the man reportedly lifted his shirt to reveal what looked to be a screwdriver.
The 36-year-old recalled how he dropped the dog lead, allowing Ichigo to run into the park as he tried to get away from the man towards a busy road.
He claims the attacker hit him on the back of the head, causing him to fall into the street where the pair began to fight against each other.
At some point during the altercation, Tom said he managed to get free from the man.
He said: "I managed to run kind of like another ten metres maybe and shouted for help a couple of times. I think twice was all I managed to do before he managed to grab me again.
“He threw me to the floor. As soon as that happened, whether it was him throwing me or what, I felt kind of from my upper chest down went completely cold.
“I couldn’t move so my legs at that point just were not working. I remember trying to get up and I couldn’t get up."
Tom said that the man was behind him trying to stab him as he lay on the floor trying to protect his head and neck.
To his relief, pedestrians and people from nearby flats rushed to help him and were able to scare the attacker off.
He was left with 19 stab wounds and injuries that included a penetrating brain injury through his sinus, a skull fracture, pelvic fracture, partial loss of sight and an incomplete spinal cord injury.
Despite his extensive injuries, Tom claims he "didn’t feel any pain" during the attack.
He spent six-and-a-half weeks in hospital undergoing surgery and receiving physio and osteopathy treatment to regain his mobility.
Tom said: "I was aware pretty early that I was in quite a bit of trouble.
"The first time I woke up, I don’t think I could move my legs at all. From my upper chest down I had no feeling at all and no ability to move anything.
“I spent a week and a half just trying to will my feet to move.
“Even when I was asleep I’d be doing it.”
After four weeks in the hospital, Tom was able to stand without help and move around after being unable to walk without support.
He described his stay in hospital as "brutal".
Tom said: “You lose all dignity in hospital when you’re not well. You have no dignity or privacy and it’s a pretty brutal realisation when your brain's working okay."
Despite regaining movement in his body, Tom claims he is only back to around 25 per cent sensitivity and remains unable to feel his core stomach muscles, hips and knees.
His sight in his left eye has been severely impacted, and he says he experiences uncomfortable and "burning" pins and needles in his legs and is unable to walk very far.
Tom had to return to the scene of the attack as part of his recovery.
He said: “Being back there I was pretty anxious, I didn’t want to be there. I remember the attack pretty much fully.
"Being back in Stratford it is a bit of a challenge.
“It’s difficult. I think for there to be an unprovoked attack where someone was trying to kill someone else as far as I’m concerned, it’s a whole different bar that’s been set.
"Everyone that lives here that I know is terrified that it’s going to happen to them or a loved one next."
Although Tom says police have obtained CCTV footage showing the attack, a number of witness statements and a beanie left by the attacker at the scene, he claims there have been few updates in the investigation.
Tom and his partner of 17 years, Chris, are contemplating moving as a result of the slow progress.
He said: "It’s definitely weighing on both of our minds. I think I’ve lost a lot more hope than Chris has.
“It just feels like the likelihood of me getting justice is quite low. It feels like lots of dead ends all the time.
“I think if no one had come along, I don’t think it would have taken him much longer.
"I feel like maybe 15 to 20 seconds longer I’d probably have been gone. I feel very lucky that people came to my rescue."
Despite the ordeal, Tom has maintained a positive outlook on the attack.
He told the Recorder: "If this is all I get back, this is more than enough to live.
"It didn’t feel like a random attack in that he was out to try and hurt somebody and it didn’t matter who that was.
"As far as I’m concerned, it was definitely a random attack on me. I just happened to be in this dude’s path so I get a little bit of solace from that."
The Metropolitan Police was contacted for a comment in response to the concerns over the progress of the investigation.
In a statement, a spokesperson advised that enquiries are ongoing, including analysis of CCTV and forensic evidence.
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Det Sgt Simon Wheeler said: “This was a horrific assault and we are doing everything we can to find the person responsible and bring him to justice.
“The officer leading the case is in regular contact with the victim and will keep him updated with any significant developments.”
Anyone with information should call 101 with reference 7524/19AUG.
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