Curt Lind didn’t know it, but he was already dead.

The 82-year-old was ambushed by a hooded figure lying in wait outside his trailer park who repeatedly slashed his throat, CCTV footage seen by The Telegraph reveals.

Amazingly, Lind remained on his feet as his assailant fled. The collar of his jacket, which had been torn off during the frenzied knife attack and trailed limply from his hand, was visibly soaked through with blood.

He staggered away, perhaps trying to seek help from a neighbour, before collapsing face-first in the middle of the road.

He didn’t move again until the authorities in Vallejo, California collected his body later that day.