A MAN was fighting for his life today after a bizarre prank went horrifically wrong.

Surgeons operated on Michael Hynes, 21, through the night after an incident in which his friend cut through a main artery in his wrist with a razor blade.

The bizarre incident happened after both men had been out drinking and returned to a house on Hamel Street, Great Lever, at 10.30pm last night.

Detectives are probing the incident but believe it happened "more out of stupidity" than animosity.

Mr Hynes is thought to have watched his friend, also 21, give himself a minor cut across the wrist. A police spokesman said the pair discussed his action before Mr Hynes offered his own wrist.

But this time, his friend, caused a great deal more damage, cutting through a main artery.

As the blood poured from Mr Hynes, an ambulance was called by another occupant of the house. Mr Hynes lost more than a pint of blood injury before ambulance paramedics reached the house.

Mr Hynes was rushed into Royal Bolton Hospital, and later transferred to Manchester's Withington Hospital where he underwent micro-surgery. A hospital spokesman this afternoon described his condition as "serious."

Mr Hynes' friend suffered slight injuries, and was arrested. He was still helping police with their inquiries earlier today.

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