A SON whose father died after being stabbed trying to protect him has spoken of the moment he saw his dad's life slipping away.

Umar Shafiq, 18, said the death of Mohammed Shafiq, of York Street, Nelson, had "ripped the heart out of our family".

Mr Shafiq, 50, had to come Umar's aid in Thompson Park, Burnley, after his son - who said he had been bullied for several months - phoned him in fear.

When he got to the scene a group of up to 50 people had gathered and Mr Shafiq was struck across the head with an iron bar and stabbed in the abdomen.

Burnley College student Umar, bearing a cut on his forehead and a bandaged wrist, told how the tragedy unfolded at 1.30pm on Tuesday.

He said: "They started insulting him and our family and my Dad got angry.

"Then he was hit in on both sides of his face. He was unsteady after that.

"Then I was fighting with someone and we ended up in the lake.

"Someone pulled me out and told me my dad was hurt."

Umar went to his father who was sat up on the grass, bleeding and injured.

He said: "His face was pale, his lips were purple and his eyes had rolled back.

"I told everyone to give him space.

"He couldn't breathe properly.

"He has asthma so we gave him his inhaler but he took a few breathes but stopped because he didn't want to take too much.

"He was conscious and we told him to keep his eyes open."

Mr Shafiq was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, where he later died.

The Independent Police Complaint's Commission has launched an investigation into Lancashire Constabulary's handling of a call from Mr Shafiq before he headed to the park.

Mr Shafiq arrived at the scene before the police.

Umar said he was angry that the officers did not get there until after the incident had finished.

But he stressed he was not thinking about "what if" the officers had come before the violence flared up.

Umar said: "Police didn't come in time, but this was his destiny."

He said his father was "the best dad in the world, who would do anything for his kids".

Umar said: "There was no other father like him. He always put his kids, family and friends first. He would help everyone.

"We just want the person who did this to get punished.

"It has ripped the heart out of our family."

Umar also told of the bullying he said he had experienced in recent months.

He said it all started after he was falsely accused of giving someone a "dirty look".

Umar said problems had escalated in recent months, with him being intimidated and threatened.

And police said they were looking into whether the incident in Thompson Park was connected to an assault on Umar in October.

Mohammed was married twice and has two daughters Afshaa Shafiq, 30, and Zeenat Shafiq, 29, from his first marriage.

They moved to Denmark with their mother in 1988.

He has five children from his second marriage with Shagufta Shafiq, 38 - Kawal Shafiq, 19, Umar Shafiq, 18, Komal Shafiq, 16, Usman Raza, 15, and Adil Shafiq who is 15 today.

He has four grandchildren Mahrukh Akhtar, 10, Muzamil Baig, eight, Isha Khan,seven, and Fakhir Khan, four.