A TEENAGE boy fleeing from police nearly bled out after the eight inch knife he was carrying punctured his groin when he tripped over.

Officers from Torquay Police had to perform life-saving first aid on the teenager, who is just 14-years-old, to stem the bleeding.

Two fourteen-year-old boys were seen loitering between cars a Torquay road at around 2am on Saturday, June 14.

The boys took to flight when officers approached; one was quickly detained, while the other ran out of view.

The second boy was found in a pool of his own blood, the eight inch knife in his pocket having punctured his groin, leaving behind a 4cm wide and 3cm deep wound.

The blade narrowly missed the boy’s femoral artery, Torquay Police said.

Paramedics said that, had police not found the boy when they did, he would likely have bled out.

‘The male has since been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home’ Torquay Police said.

‘There are several things to take from this, but most importantly, don't carry weapons’ Torquay Police said.