The victim of the latest bike-jacking in the Walthamstow Marshes has spoken of his ordeal from his hospital bed, as he awaits surgery on a broken leg sustained during the attack.

Paul Mullan, 32, of Blackhorse Road, was confronted by a gang of youths as he cycled home on a canal towpath by the River Lea on Tuesday (June 16).

He was kicked to the floor, suffering a broken leg, had his newly-repaired bike stolen and was forced to phone a taxi to take him to hospital.

It is believed someone may have filmed the attack.

Speaking to The Guardian from his hospital bed after an operation to put a plate into his leg.

He said: “I am doing well considering, I could have been stabbed.

“It was so shocking because it was not even at night and I had cycled past maybe 15 people.

“It was just on a stretch where there was no-one around.

“I think the kids must have had a spotter because they knew I was coming. They all had hoods on or were masked.

“When I came round the corner one of them stood in my way- it was over in a few seconds.

"They kicked me down and I twisted my knee- the pain was excruciating.

“I tried to hold on to them as I fell but all my belongings scattered.

“I was down on the floor staring at the stars and the leader said ‘give me your phone’. I tried to get to it first but then I thought they could have a knife.

“I think my screams of pain must have freaked them out and they ran away."

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An X-ray of Mr Mullen's broken leg.

Mr Mullan was told he had to take himself to hospital as his injuries were not deemed serious enough to warrant an ambulance.

“The police advised me that the best thing to do was to get home and get an ambulance in the morning," he said.

“But I know my body, I knew my leg was gone so I called an Uber to get to hospital as quickly as possible."

“It was really unfortunate I am coming back from a football injury and had just started running again.

"I'm pretty fed up of helplessly lying here."

The IT manager warned other cyclists to avoid Walthamstow Marshes completely after a series of violent robberies in the area.

“If you are a confident cyclist I would say you stick to main roads until mini-Holland improves the roads," he said.

“If you’re not particularly confident I would stay away from Walthamstow Marshes area altogether or take public transport. I never see police in that area.

“If police are cycling around undercover it could happen to them too.”

The first suspect is described by police as a tall black male, aged 18-20, of slim build and wearing a burgundy bandana over his face.

A second black male was described as being of large build, aged 18-20, 5ft 11ins, with afro-style hair was wearing a black jacket.

The third is a black male of Somali appearance, about 16-years-old, who was short, of slim build and wearing a black bomber jacket and blue jeans.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or, if you do not wish to give your name, you can phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting the reference number 2813883/15.