Man stabbed in brawl

A man in his 20s was undergoing surgery last night after he was stabbed in the back during a brawl involving up to 10 men in Papatoetoe.

A witness from a nearby Burger King alerted police about 7.50pm to the men fighting with iron bars and knives in a Caltex service station forecourt on Puhinui Rd, near the Great South Rd intersection.

It is believed the victim was defending himself against the other men, who had ganged up on him.

He was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition.