Two 18-year-olds have been arrested and charged after a man was stabbed during a fight in Nelson early yesterday.
One of the teens has been charged with male assaults female and common assault, while the other is facing a charge of injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The arrests follow a fight between two groups of people, one comprised of two 18-year-old men and the other of two men and two women, near the corner of St Vincent St and Natalie St at 12.15am on Sunday.
During the fight a 36-year-old man was stabbed once in the stomach with a knife.
He underwent surgery and is recovering in Nelson Hospital, where he has briefly spoken to police.
"The victim is extremely lucky and this type of assault can easily lead to serious injury or even be fatal," detective sergeant Lex Bruning said yesterday.
"Police have completed a scene examination and have recovered a knife believed to have been involved in the incident."
Police are yet to interview a number of witnesses and people involved, as they continue to piece together the events leading up to this incident.
Both men are on bail and due to appear in the Nelson District Court on March 6.