A YOUTH worker who was stabbed 14 times while defending his son and friends has said he would do it all again to protect the youngsters.

Simon Somerville, a youth project worker and trainer at KO boxing gym in Hatherley Mews, Walthamstow, used himself as a human shield between a gang of 30 youths weilding knives and his 18-year-old son, Sha, and a group of young people he had taken to an anti-crime event.

The dad-of-five recalls: “I remember seeing 30 of them lighting fireworks. They grabbed the young man at the front and it looked like he had a knife pulled on him. I rushed to the front and stood between and tried to talk sense to them. That is when I took the first one – they stabbed me 14 times.”

The former amateur boxer, known as Sugs, said he died twice on the operating table and his family and friends were told by doctors that he wouldn't make it until the morning, so they prayed by his bedside.

The 41-year-old said: “It is still shocking to think about what happened. I know I am lucky to be alive and count my blessings. Sometimes I get down, but I am never out. The fighting spirit pulled me through.”

When asked about whether he would do the same thing again if faced with a gang, he said despite all the pain and anguish, he probably would.

Barely able to walk, he left hospital last week after more than six weeks and has a long recupperation period ahead of him. But he said he is determined to get better and resume his work of helping youths and working at KO gym.

He said: “Working with young people is my passion – my life. I love to see young people fulfill thei r potential. They need a role model. Some of them don't have families and we have a nice famiily at the gym and can help them channel some of that aggresion into something positive.”

Following the stabbing, Mr Somerville has been nominated for national Children's Champion award, after being nominated by his son, Sha.

Sha said: “I am really proud of what my dad did. Most others wouldn't put themselves in that place. They don't make many like him.

“It was such a shock when he was stabbed because we weren't expecting it. And it was horrible at the hospital when he was just making it through each day. But for me he is my role model and is like superman – I have always thought he was invincible.”

To vote for Sugs to win the Children's Champion award, visit: extras.newsoftheworld.co.uk/childrenschampions2010