AN ENGINEER who was almost blinded in a chemical attack believes he owes his sight to a “guardian angel” police officer who rushed him to hospital.

Chijioke Ezebude, from Basildon, had an alkaline liquid thrown in his face by labourer Thomas Eastwood, 23, after breaking up a fight between teenagers at the junction of London Road and Clay Hill Road, Vange, on March 19.

The 46-year-old was almost completely blinded in his right eye - and suffered serious damage to his left eye.

The self-employed railway worker lost his job and will need treatment for the rest of his life because the damage means his eyes are constantly getting infected.

But the father-of-four said it could have been even worse if PC Pete Pettet had not rushed him from Basildon Hospital to a specialist eye unit at Southend Hospital.

He said: “I will never forget him, I owe him everything. He went above and beyond, that’s who I owe my eyes to.”

Mr Ezebude was attacked after intervening in a brawl and was speaking to one of the trouble-makers when Eastwood approached clutching a water bottle. Moments later, Mr Ezebude said he felt “indescribable” pain.

He said: “I couldn’t breathe at all, I was suffocating. Talking about it now I can still taste it. I couldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

Members of the public tried to wash the liquid off with water and Mr Ezebude was rushed to Basildon Hospital.

But doctors could not treat him and he was told there would be a four-hour wait for an ambulance transfer to Southend.

Mr Ezebude’s wife Mary, 41, decided to go home and get her car, but the quick-thinking officer recognised his injuries were so severe he needed immediate treatment.

He said: “PC Pettet knew I was in so much pain. I was shivering because my clothes were wet. He said: ‘I have had enough of this, I’m taking you to Southend myself’.”

PC Pettet gathered blankets from the hospital and heated up his car, before wheeling Mr Ezebude out and racing down the A127 on blue and twos.

The officer then stayed with Mr Ezebude until CID officers arrived.

Despite his ordeal and the lasting damage done to his sight, Mr Ezebude said he forgives Eastwood, who was remanded in custody last week after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He said: “He acted out of ignorance. I’m a Christian, I can’t hold it against him because it would hold myself back. From my heart, I have forgiven him already.”

Mary said: “PC Pettet was the epitome of a police man. God sent him to be our guardian angel and save my family from the trauma of a horrific incident which if not for his quick-thinking and empathy could have ended much worse.

“He attended to take a statement but ended up being our pillar of strength and support.”

Eastwood will be sentenced on February 21.