Bystanders may have saved teen stab victim

Bystanders who rushed in to give first aid to a teenage boy stabbed at a Melbourne shopping centre may have saved his life.

A teenage boy was rushed to hospital, fighting for his life, after being stabbed at a Woolworths supermarket in Broadmeadows just after 6pm on Thursday.

Police were called to the store after reports of a brawl involving up to 15 teens.

The 16-year-old boy from Dallas had already been stabbed to the upper body.

Superintendent Peter Lardner said the group of boys were all known to each other, and the attack was not random.

"Victoria Police does not step away from the fact that there are youth gangs in Melbourne, however I can reassure the community this was not a gang related matter," he said.

"They are just a group of youths who hang around together."

Six teenagers aged between 13 and 16 were arrested by officers at the scene and issued caution notices over the affray. An investigation into the stabbing is ongoing.

Graphic footage of the aftermath of the stabbing has been shared on social media, showing the teen clutching his abdomen and standing in a pool of blood.

Supt Lardner said while the footage was graphic, there was a positive aspect to it, with members of the public seen responding to the unfolding incident.

"Members of the public, who didn't know this youth at all, have gone to his aid and provided a really high level of care and comfort to him," he said.

"It may well be the level of assistance they provided to him at that point, in a first aid perspective, actually saved his life."

He was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition but his status had improved overnight.

Supt Lardner said it was courageous for those bystanders to take action and reflected the good, kind and caring people in the Broadmeadows community.

He said the incident was a "really unique circumstance" adding that police are actively working with schools in the local area to help students who "have a few challenges".