A Ridgewood High School student was hospitalized after allegedly being slashed by a man trying to steal his backpack.

While off the school campus on his lunch break, the student was allegedly attacked by a man. The student told authorities that the attack occurred as he walked along Walthery Avenue.

After the incident, the student returned to school with visible cuts. The student informed school staff members that he had been assaulted.

The student said that the attacker had been following him. When the attacker grabbed at the student’s backpack, the student fell to the ground. At that point, the student said, the attacker pulled out a knife and started slashing at him.

The student was able to escape the attacker and run to his home, which was nearby. He then returned to school.

When police arrived at the school, they interviewed the victim, who was later taken to Valley Hospital to be treated for his cuts.

The student described the attacker as being a white male in his twenties with scruffy facial hair. According to the student, the attacker was wearing a black long sleeve shirt and black sweatpants.

Although officers investigated and searched the area, they did not find anyone matching the description of the attacker.

For more information pertaining to this incident, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Ridgewood Student Slashed on Way Home from School; Attacker Still at Large.“