[…]  Air Force serviceman Spencer Stone, of Carmichael, California, Alek Skarlatos, a National Guardsman from Oregon, and their childhood friend, Anthony Sadler, a university senior, confronted El-Khazzani and wrestled his rifle, a handgun and nine magazines of bullets from him.

In the attack, El-Khazzani pulled out a box cutter knife, slashed Mr Stone in the neck and ‘almost cut his thumb off’ in the melee.

They then shoved him to the ground and beat him unconscious, with the help of British businessman Chris Norman, 62, it is reported.

In the attack, El-Khazzani pulled out a box cutter knife, slashed Mr Stone in the neck and ‘almost cut his thumb off’ in the melee.

But despite his injuries Mr Stone gave first aid to another man bleeding heavily from a neck wound before the train made an unscheduled stop in the northern French town of Arras ten minutes later, where it was met by dozens of armed police and paramedics. (more)