A 23-YEAR-OLD man who was stabbed outside a Chinese takeaway ‘died twice’ in the moments after it happened, it is believed.

Police were called to Albert Road at around 1am yesterday morning (August 6) after the man was attacked near the Chinese Garden.

He had been stabbed four times and was taken to a south London hospital by ambulance and accompanied on the journey by an air ambulance doctor.

It is understood that the stab victim was resuscitated once in the ambulance and once on the operating table at the hospital.

His condition is now said to be stable.

Sleeping residents were woken by a woman screaming “It’s not worth it” just moments before the stabbing.

One homeowner, who did not want to be named, says a group was gathered near the bus stop in Albert Road at around 12.45am.

She says her partner saw one of the men in the group breaking the top off a for sale sign man before the group walked towards the takeaway.

The retired woman said: “The lady was shouting ‘It’s not worth it’ and that’s all I heard.

“Then the next thing I knew there was an ambulance and I jumped out of bed and then police cars arrived and a police van.”

Four men, aged 20,26, 39 and 42, were arrested in connection with the incident.

They have all been bailed to return in mid-October.

The road was closed for at least 12 hours while forensics officers worked at the scene.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the police on 020 8284 9131 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Did you see what happened? Call the newsroom on 01689 885725.