A man may never walk again after he was stabbed in the back with such force during a ‘racist attack’ that the knife broke off.

The victim, 25, who won’t be named for fear of reprisal, is still in Rochdale Infirmary after a nine-hour operation to remove the blade, which narrowly missed his spine.

His family and friends are in shock over last Monday’s brutal assault at Khan’s Takeaway on Milnrow Road, Rochdale - which took place after England’s Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland.

Staff at the takeaway and a family friend of the victim, who was a customer, claim a group of men came into the shop using racist language.

Armed with bars and knives, it’s alleged they then assaulted staff, throwing a kebab machine at a chef’s eye.

At some point the victim was stabbed in the back.

He was rushed to hospital and underwent a major operation on Tuesday, June 28. Doctors said he was ‘millimetres away from death’.

It’s alleged the men had first kicked at the gate of the Central Mosque across the road.

A family friend told the M.E.N: “We’ve been told he may never walk again. We thought we would lose him. He is the rock of his family, if they didn’t have him they would be lost.

“We have received so much support from so many people and that is keeping him going.

“But the hate needs to stop in this world. We are all human beings, we need to support each other, stop these racist attacks.

“He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He could have died. It’s been heartbreaking.”

It’s understood the knife removed from the victim’s back has been sent for analysis.

The friend added: “He’s in so much pain and not saying much. We are all praying for him.”

A staff member at the takeaway told the M.E.N that three men, one of them a regular customer, had come into the shop.

He said they were armed and shouting at them. Their CCTV camera was not working at the time, he added.

GMP have confirmed that they were called to Rochdale Infirmary some time after 1.30am on Tuesday to a report of a man suffering a stab wound. Their enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information should call police immediately on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.