A woman has told of how she fought to save the life of a Southfields man who was stabbed in Tooting.

Lewis Elwin was killed on Monday, April 18 after he was stabbed in Penwortham Road.

Wandsworth Times:

From Tuesday: "Things like this don't happen round here": Neighbourhood in shock after murder of Lewis Elwin in Tooting

From Wednesday: Tooting murder victim Lewis Elwin died from "a stab wound to the chest"

He was stabbed at 3.30pm, when parents were picking their children up from school, staggered toward Thrale Road where he collapsed and was treated by passers-by.

One of them, a woman who did not want to be named, said: "I was walking with my friend on one side of the road near the mechanics and he saw him fall.

"We ran over and pulled open his jacket and saw blood.

"I was on the phone for 16 minutes before the paramedics arrived but the air ambulance was circulating within six minutes."

The woman said she took off her jumper and her friend used it to stem the bleeding from Mr Elwin.

She said: "I didn't know what to do, I was panicked a bit.

"I told them [emergency services] if you don't arrive soon this boy is going to die.

"I think 30 people were looking around, trying to help, people were calling the ambulance.

"He was not responding, he was there but he was not there."

Wandsworth Times:

The woman said she believed Mr Elwin died a mere 10 seconds before the paramedics arrived, and that no tent was put over Mr Elwin, just a silver sheet.

She went to the police station and returned to the scene later when the body was being taken away.

As she tried to save Mr Elwin, she realised she knew him, and described him as a polite man who always said hello and asked how people were.

She said: "I did not know him well, but he was always polite.

"It is a horrible thing.

"This boy has got hundreds of bunches of flowers.

"It was someone I associated with, he wasn't a stranger.

"I just want justice for his mother, she deserves that."

Sadiq Khan, Labour’s candidate for London Mayor and MP for Tooting, said: "My thoughts are with Lewis Elwin’s Mum and family.

"This happened just a stone's throw away from my home and as a Dad that's very worrying and troubling.

"Every victim of violent crime is a tragedy. I'm asking any witnesses to come forward so the police can get to the bottom of what happened.

"Tragedies like this reaffirm my commitment to making clear that we must do more to tackle violent crime - including the use of knives and other weapons."

A website has been set up to fund the funeral of Mr Elwin.

To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/9dzz2e4k.