Delivery trucker driver Thomas Trott was last night overcome with emotion when he told of how he witnessed the stabbing of a US tourist in Hamilton and then gave chase to the alleged attacker.

The 49-year-old filled with tears and said every time he closed his eyes he saw the terrible events of Monday morning replayed in slow motion in his mind.

Mr. Trott had been delivering liquor to the Pickled Onion pub at about 9.30 a.m. and was driving slowly along Front Street when he saw the knife attack on innocent holidaymaker Scott Jable.

The Royal Gazette reported yesterday how Mr. Jable and his wife Christine were shopping in Hamilton with their nine-month-old son, Cole, when someone approached them from behind, stabbing the 38-year-old, just missing his spine by a fraction.

"I saw everything," said Mr. Trott. "It was terrible. I saw the couple pushing the stroller. They were just minding their own business, window shopping.

"When I first saw (the attacker) I figured he was going to snatch a purse or something. It was the way he was coming up behind them so close.

"But that's when I saw his hand go back and then I saw the blade of the knife. I saw him thrust it. It all happened so fast.

"I saw the knife (again) when he pulled it out and I saw blood on it. Everything felt like it was in slow motion."

Mr. Trott, from Hamilton Parish, said he alerted his colleague who was in the truck with him, and then instantly jumped out of the truck and started to chase after the knifeman as he ran along Front Street and up Burnaby Street.

He said he followed the attacker onto Reid Street, where he saw him close the knife up, and then was able to summon the help of a passing Police officer.

"As I chased after the man, I was trying to stay on his blind side, so that he couldn't see me," said an emotional Mr. Trott.

"As we reached the top of the hill at Burnaby Street, he pushed people out of the way and said 'get out of the way or I'll stab you'.

"I was not thinking about anything, I just did not want to lose sight of him. When I saw him close the knife, I felt good because I was then able to plan my attack on him."

Mr. Trott said he had planned to ram the attacker against a building wall, but just then a Police officer came by.

The truck driver alerted the officer, and within a few seconds, the alleged attacker was arrested on the corner of Parliament and Reid streets and taken to Hamilton Police station for questioning.

Mr. Trott said as the alleged attacker lay on the ground being handcuffed, he stood over him until he was sure he was not going to get away.

And he said he noticed the same knife under the alleged attacker's leg, so he dragged it away from him with his foot.

"After that, I figured I would just disappear like the invisible man, but it has not happened like that," said a quiet-spoken Mr. Trott.

"The Police officer came towards me and I later gave a statement to Police."

Mr. Trott, at times yesterday, was barely able to speak as he fought back tears when he pictured the incident in his mind.

But he said, one day, he would like to meet up with Mr. Jable, who is now in University of Chicago Hospital recovering from his injuries.

The Royal Gazette spoke to Mr. Jable by phone on Tuesday, where he said he felt lucky to be alive.

He said both he and his wife had feared the worst, but said he should make almost a full recovery. At worst, he said he could lose a little bit of feeling in his left leg.

However, despite their ordeal, the couple said they had not been put off Bermuda, and planned to return in the future.

And Mr. Jable thanked everyone in Bermuda who had helped both him and his wife, and said he believed he had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Police last night made an appeal for witnesses to the incident, or anyone with information, to come forward to assist officers with the investigation.

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said: "A team of detectives are presently conducting investigations into the stabbing of tourist Scott Jable that occurred at approximately 9.45 a.m. on Front Street.

"A Bermudian male is presently in Police custody and is assisting Police with the investigation and a court appearance is expected sometime this week.

"Bermuda Police Service would like to thank all members of the public who assisted with the victim and the apprehension of the suspect."

Anyone with information should call Det. Sgt. Jerome Laws at the Serious Crime Unit on 295-0011, or the confidential CrimeStoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.