A man who had suffered multiple stab wounds in an attack by his neighbour would have died from his injuries if they had not been treated promptly, a jury was told yesterday.

Vascular surgeon Max Troxler, who treated Mohammed ‘Raza’ Shah, said he had been stabbed at least 16 times to his chest, abdomen and back.

Mr Troxler was giving evidence at Bradford Crown Court in the trial of three members of the same family, who are accused of attempting to murder their next-door neighbour Mr Shah, 26.

Nadeem Nawaz, 25, of Ringwood Road, Canterbury, Bradford, his mother Fazilat Nawaz, 63, also of Ringwood Road, and his sister, Shazmeen Nawaz, 32, of Chelwood Drive, Lower Grange, all deny attempted murder. Nadeem Nawaz has admitted an alternative charge of wounding with intent, but the women also deny that.

The incident happened outside Mr Shah’s home after 11pm on September 30 last year. The prosecution claims Nadeem wielded the knife but the women also attacked Mr Shah and the offence was a joint enterprise.

Mr Troxler told the court Mr Shah’s wounds were short and incised, and consistent with a stabbing injury. He said a CT scan had revealed a punctured right lung. The surgeon said that could lead to the lung collapsing,which if untreated could be fatal.

He said Mr Shah had also suffered bleeding to the left side of his chest cavity.

Mr Troxler added: “If the bleeding continues people can bleed to death.”

He said Mr Shah also had bleeding in his lower left abdomen. The patient was transferred to the operating theatre as quickly as possible and Mr Troxler was called out from home.

Asked by prosecutor David Gordon what would have happened to Mr Shah if his injuries had not been treated promptly, Mr Troxler said: “I think he was likely to die.”

The surgeon said drains were inserted into both sides of the chest, and abdominal surgery, called a lapotomy, also took place.

He said three of the stab wounds had passed through the abdominal wall and one of them had gone right through the stomach leaving holes at the front and back of the organ. The small intestine had also been punctured and there was an injury to the pancreas.

The trial continues.