The owner of a motel in northern New South Wales recounted a harrowing incident today, where he was left fighting for his life after being stabbed by a teenager.

Mick Cikota, aged 52, was reportedly attacked by a 13-year-old at his Moree motel last month. The altercation resulted in serious injuries to his arm and torso.

During an interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham, Cikota, who has resided at the motel with his family for almost three decades, shared that he genuinely believed he might not survive the encounter.

The frightening episode unfolded when a group of five boys, ranging in age from 11 to 15, allegedly broke into the property.

Cikota intervened when one of the boys entered his 86-year-old mother-in-law’s room, holding a knife menacingly over her, as he feared the young intruder might harm her.

”When I ran into the room, he had a knife over the top of my 86-year-old mother-in-law, and that’s why we acted so quickly … I was fearing for her life,” he told 2GB.

When Cikota wrestled with the boy, he suffered multiple knife wounds, and says he was “bleeding profusely” as his alleged attacker told him to let go.

“I thought that’s it, my life is over.”

Cikota said police and paramedics arrived and he was treated for his injuries before being taken to hospital in Sydney.

The 13-year-old boy was charged with multiple offences, including wounding.

He was later bailed by the children’s court.

The alleged attack happened as the NSW government blocked an opposition push in parliament to tighten the state’s bail laws.

Cikota accused Labor Premier Chris Minns and Attorney General Michael Daley of having “blood on their hands”.

“They had a chance to change the law,” he said.

“None of them had the guts to … keep these kids behind bars.”