Kings Heath man stabbed by burglar tells of ordeal

Aug 26 2009 EXCLUSIVE By Mark Cowan

A FATHER who was stabbed in the back after confronting burglars in his Birmingham home today declared: “I feel lucky to be alive”.

Frank Rarko was knifed twice as he grappled with one of the burglars he had disturbed in the kitchen of his house in Kings Heath.

He had gone to investigate noises after being woken early on Monday leaving his wife, Petra, asleep upstairs.

The brave 32-year-old said: “My first reaction was to protect my family.

“This is the home for me and my family – your home should be somewhere where you feel safe.

“I was trying to protect us, and get them out of the house.

“But they were prepared for a physical attack. I never thought this would happen.

“They must have thought they’d killed me. They stabbed me twice straight away. They knew they could be killing me and taking my life away.”

Mr Rarko, moved into the house with Petra and son, Adam, aged five, about a year ago.

He said he was disturbed by noises and when he realised the sounds was coming from downstairs he went to investigate.