Officer stabbed during eviction is named

A police community support officer who was stabbed in the neck during a house eviction was named today.

Gary Etchells, 47, from Glossop, Derbyshire, suffered a knife wound to an artery in his throat while overseeing the eviction of a person from a property in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, yesterday morning.

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• Blunkett bobby knifed in the neck during eviction

The married father of four sons was taken to Tameside General Hospital after the attack at 10.30am and underwent two emergency operations.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said the PCSO had regained consciousness and started to breathe on his own within the last half-hour.

Mr Etchells had been due to meet bailiffs representing the New Charter Housing Association and police at the address to oversee the eviction.

He arrived before the police constables and spoke briefly with housing officers and a man moments before he was stabbed.

His wife Andi Etchells and family have been waiting anxiously at the hospital for news of his condition.

Speaking this morning, Mrs Etchells said: "What can I say about Gary? He's a caring, generous and genuine man. If you don't like Gary, then there's something wrong with you.

"I was worried I was going to lose him yesterday, but thank God he is improving today."