THE shocked parents of a teenager, who was stabbed while on a holiday with friends in Greece, have rushed to his hospital bedside to comfort him.

The teenage friends’ dream holiday turned to tragedy when one member of their group, Robert Sebbage, from Tadley, was stabbed to death following a night out on the island of Zakynthos.

His friend Jordan Manson, of Ringshall Gardens, Bramley, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, after he was stabbed in the chest and stomach in the early hours of last Wednesday, causing his lungs to collapse.

Jordan’s parents Nigel, 59, and Kim, 54, and sister Natalie, spoke to The Gazette just hours before Mr and Mrs Manson flew to the island, better known as Zante, to be with their 18-year-old son.

Natalie, 22, told The Gazette of the moment the family received a phone call informing them of the tragic attack.

She said: “It was in the early hours of the morning, from a friend who was with them. We were told that Jordan was being taken into the operating theatre. I was just numb.”

The family were able to briefly speak with Jordan, who works for the family’s garage business Mendem Motors, in Tadley, after he was operated on.

Speaking last Wednesday, Mrs Manson said: “He’s got tubes down his nose and throat so he was struggling to speak. But at least he was in a stable condition.”

Natalie added: “He had come round but was very shaken up. He sounded weak. He didn’t say much. Just that he doesn’t know what’s going on. He was not really with it, but he knows about Robert.”

It has been reported that Robert – whose grieving parents Rhian and Andy flew out to Zante last Thursday – was fatally stabbed in the heart, Jordan was badly injured, and three other members of the group also sustained minor stab wounds, after an argument started between two taxi drivers and the group of teenagers, all former pupils at The Hurst Community College, in Baughurst, in the resort of Laganas at around 4.30am last Wednesday.

Natalie said: “It was their last night out in Zante and they were due home on Thursday. They wanted to enjoy their holiday, which was their first together. They are all friends from school and were just young lads looking forward to a night out.

“They booked the holiday up months ago and had been looking forward to it for a long time. Now none of them will want to go away again. We just want people to know that they are good boys. They aren’t troublemakers.”

Jordan had contacted his family during the holiday, to say he was having a great time. Three other members of the group, Samuel Champion, Steven Granston and Callum Lane, were also admitted to hospital, but were discharged the same day.

Robert, of Meyhill Gardens, Tadley, suffered from a rare bowel condition and impressed people with his courage as he battled with the illness.

The Reading FC fan appeared in The Gazette several times, once when he was the England mascot and walked out at Wembley with football legend David Beckham.

A statement from Robert’s family said: “All these young men are very close friends. They are all 18 years old and all went to The Hurst school together.

“Some went on to college together, and some into work. They are all just a bunch of nice lads. This was their first holiday abroad, and they had all gone just to enjoy themselves.”

Taxi driver Stelios Morfis, 21, has been charged with premeditated murder, and Dimosthenes Mylonas, 25, has been charged as an accomplice.