A neighbour has described the moment his family went to the aid of a mother bleeding to death in front of her young daughter. 

The 26-year-old mother-of-one remains in a critical condition in an east London hospital after being stabbed in the throat and arm in a flat in Hatherley Road, Walthamstow, on Monday at around 3pm. 

Her six-year-old daughter was also treated at the flat in Hatherley House for minor injuries. 

The 50-year-old father-of-two was at home with his 18-year-old son and 20-year-old daughter when they received a knock at the door from the woman, screaming for help. 

The father, who asked not to be named, said: "She knocked at the door, she asked for help, she was bleeding very bad and was very critical. 

""My son took the girl inside her home and kept her there as I rang the ambulance and then handed the phone to my daughter to speak to the crew as I sat with the woman and put pressure on her throat. 

"It took the police and ambulance twenty minutes to arrive. I thought she was going to die."

He said once the rapid response team arrived, they "did their best to revive her" and spent forty minutes on the balcony where she was placed on a drip and given blood. 

Chair of the Hatherley House Residents Association Nelia Cetin, 47, said she is shocked by the incident. 

"This is quite a safe residential area. Nothing like this has ever happened before. 

"I'm very surprised about the stabbing, it is the biggest incident to have happened since I became chair in 2010. 

"We want to wish her a safe and full recovery."

The 50-year-old said he had no time to reflect on what was happen, only to use his instinct and said her survival was done to sheer luck they were at home. 

He added: "We had no time to be shocked, no time to be scared and no time to cry. 

"It wasn't nice seeing someone bleeding to death in front of you. It was a very strange experience for my kids, but they're tough kids and are OK. 

"Had we not been in, she would have died. There was nobody about and no-one else to help." 

The family were not allowed to return to their home until last night.  

Police have not made any arrests but do not believe it to have been a random attack. 

Detective Chief Inspector Philip Langworthy, of Waltham Forest CID, said: "We are investigating a serious assault on a young woman. 

"The motive remains unclear at this stage but we do not believe this is a random attack. 

"People living and working nearby may have seen something that could be of vital importance to investigators. 

"I would urge anyone with information to contact Waltham Forest CID on 07785 530 686, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111."