A manhunt is under way after muggers stabbed a have-a-go hero to death in east London.
Tributes were paid to Sukhwinder Singh, who died as he tried to stop the pair in Barking.
Builder Mr Singh, 31, who had a wife and son in India, was described as "brave" and "special".
Mr Singh chased the men along Victoria Road into Uphall Road after a 28-year-old woman's handbag was snatched near Barking station on Friday evening, and when he caught up with the pair a fight broke out and he was stabbed.
The victim had lived in the UK with relatives for around 10 years, according to the Metropolitan Police.
His cousin Harwinder Singh, 27, with whom he shared a house, said he drove to the scene where he found Mr Singh dying. He was taken to the Royal London Hospital but later died.
He told the Mail on Sunday: "I found his body lying in the snow. The police tried to save him, but he had been stabbed in the heart. He was the bravest man, the most selfless person I've ever met."
A committed Sikh, Mr Singh used to go to Singh Sabha London East Gurdwara in North Street, Barking, every evening after work.
Detective Inspector John Sandlin said: "This is a tragic death of a man who was killed for attempting to stop others committing crime and our thoughts are with Sukhwinder's family. However, I would also to reassure the wider community that tragic events such as these are very rare."
The two robbers were black men in their 20s or 30s and 5ft 7in to 6ft.
