Baxi man in holiday sword attack

Gary Wainwright, a salesman with boiler manufacturer Baxi, is in hospital after fending off a sword-attack whilst on holiday with his family in Tenerife over the New Year.

Wainwright, who took on the sword-wielding thug in a bar, is being hailed as a hero as his actions enabled over 100 people, including children, to escape.

His arm was broken in four places and his main artery was severed after he was sliced repeatedly across the forearm by the three-foot long sword. Wainwright was using a chair to deflect the swordsman’s advances. The doctors have told him he is lucky not to have lost his left arm, or even bleed to death.

Onlookers tied a tourniquet around his arm to stem the blood loss – probably saving his life – and at the hospital his bone was pinned and he was given 178 stitches.

He said: “This was about protecting my family, friends and their kids.”

Graham Parkes, Wainwright’s manager, said: “We are all shocked and stunned by what has happened to Gary. He needs to have further surgery to repair the damage to his nerves, but he is in good spirits and looking forward to getting back to work.

“I’m sure everyone in the industry will join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.”