A HOMELESS man who was attacked and beaten on just his second day of sleeping rough has been saved by the kind-hearted community.

Steve McGregor, who was made homeless two weeks ago and rushed to hospital after he “was almost kicked to death”, has been taken in by Duncan English, and has had thousands of pounds raised to help him find a new home.

Mr English discovered Steve sleeping in a torn tent in Wickford memorial park two weeks ago, and gave him a place to stay in his garage.

Since then, Mr McGregor, 55, has received a free haircut and beard trim, been offered a leaflet distribution and handyman job at the soon-to-be-opened Console

Clinic in Wickford High Street, and had more than £2,600 raised for his first deposit at a new flat through a Just Giving page.

Good Samaritan Mr English, who lives opposite the memorial park, said: “His bike was thrown into the river in the attack but I managed to pull it out a week a later.

“He was in a nasty way. He had cuts on his face and the back of his head. The community spirit has been amazing to rally around him. 

“He was sitting in the park in half of his tent. If I had have left him there he would have died of hypothermia. 

“He had nothing, just a broken tent and a rucksack.

“I just made the garage as comfy as possible.”

Steve, who needs his bike for his paper round, which includes the Echo, can’t thank Duncan enough, labelling him “an absolute diamond”.

He added: “I didn’t know Duncan was doing all this for me. I was attacked in my tent. The tent was left without a roof.

“I’ve got a mattress and sleeping bag in the garage, it’s a lot better than being wet and cold. The money will be really helpful when I find a new place.”