A knifeman, who plunged a blade into his victim's heart during a street row outside a hospital, has been locked-up.
Mohammed Alinoor Uddin, 36, of Well Street, Hackney turned on the 34 year-old man when he intervened in a dispute.
Fortunately the victim survived because he was treated by medics in the reception area of the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel.
Uddin received twelve years and nine months imprisonment after pleading guilty to wounding, with intent, and assault of an emergency worker.
He was also sentenced to six months imprisonment for possession of a bladed/pointed article, to be served concurrently.
On Saturday, October 12, last year the victim was stabbed in the heart as he attempted to intervene in an altercation between Uddin and another man in Turner Street, Whitechapel.
The victim’s injury was so serious that doctors were forced to operate in the reception area of the hospital.
He required ongoing medical treatment, but has since made a full recovery.
The Old Bailey heard the outcome could have been far worse if not for the actions of PC Mat Evans, an off-duty officer from West Midlands Police.
PC Evans, based in Birmingham city centre, was walking down the road when he saw Uddin attacking the victim.
He ran towards the two men and identified himself as a police officer, causing Uddin to flee the scene.
The officer then chased him across the road and forced him to the ground, where he was bitten by Uddin while attempting to get the knife out of his hand.
He was restrained until officers arrived at the scene, at which point he was arrested and remanded in custody.
Detective Constable Gavin Markey, who led the investigation, said: “This was a brutal attack and it is only by sheer luck that the victim was in the grounds of the hospital and able to receive immediate medical treatment.
“Had he not been so close by, doctors have made it clear he would have died.
“We must also recognise the vital intervention of the off-duty officer, who saw what was happening and acted instinctively, risking his life to try and prevent the attack becoming more serious.
“We are pleased Uddin is now behind bars and unable to inflict any further harm.”
PC Evans said: “Incidents like this make you realise being a police officer isn’t a job, it’s a state of mind you can never turn off, even when not at work.
“When I saw the guy being stabbed, for me there wasn’t a choice to make, I had to stop him before he killed someone.
"I’m glad everything turned out well in the end.
“The doctors, nurses, and hospital staff performed a miracle in saving that man’s life."