All hell broke loose in downtown Kingston on Friday when a man who robbed a woman's gold chain, was stabbed by the victim and later beaten by a mob which gathered.

Police had to act swiftly to save the life of the man, who was held while trying to escape with the victim's gold chain and had a knife lodged in his side.

Up to late yesterday it was not ascertained if the man had been admitted to hospital. Police have confirmed the incident but were tight-lipped about further details.

"Di knife hitch up inna him side. Di man deh a ground. Yuh can see seh di knife sharp. But regardless of what, mi nuh want him dead but him too thief bout him waan cash fi gold," one witness told THE STAR as the incident unfolded.

Police said the drama began about noon when the man grabbed the woman's chain but not before struggling with the woman who stabbed him.

"The lady run dung di man and bawl out 'gimme back mi gold chain tief', dem ketch di man. Him get cut inna him face and dem hit him inna him head with some big stones. One man fling a big stone and hit him and di man drop on di ground and hit him head against a next stone," another witness revealed.

The Kingston Central police, who were alerted, had to rescue the man from an angry crowd. He was rushed to hospital.