BOXING legend Michael Watson has described the moment he was “hanging for dear life” in a carjacking for a Crimewatch appeal.

Watson, 51, was dragged along The Ridgeway, in Chingford, after thugs pounced on him and carer Lennard Ballack at 5pm on Thursday, February 16.

Watson, who suffered a lasting brain injury in a fight against Chris Eubank in 1991, is recounting his ordeal on BBC’s Crimewatch tonight.

The former Commonwealth middleweight champ tells the show: “It became like a nightmare.

“I couldn’t believe it was happening. It felt like my skin was peeling off. I was hanging on for dear life.”

Lennard said: “I kept on saying, ‘Is Michael dead? Is he dead?’”

The carer added: “No bones were broken, thank God especially my head wasn’t smashed in.

“I came through with just all bumps and grazes. A very lucky escape.”

Lennard was driving a VW Golf when a Mercedes van with tinted windows smashed into the back of them.

With Michael still in the passenger seat, Lennard got out to check the damage when he was punched to the floor and sprayed with ammonia in his eyes.

As the thugs attempted to drive away Michael was dragged for 600 metres as he struggled to free his arm from the seatbelt.

Somehow Michael escaped without any lasting injuries.

The car was then dumped a short distance along the same road.

Watson adds on the show: “Evil thugs, that’s what they are. Evil and senseless. They have no heart.”