Two dance instructors, who were present during the Southport attack, have shared their traumatic experience of trying to save young girls from the horrific incident. Leanne Lucas, the organizer of a dance class inspired by Taylor Swift, tearfully recounted how she initially mistook Axel Rudakubana for someone picking up a child before he began attacking her.
Leanne, 36, suffered severe injuries, including a fractured shoulder blade and spine damage, after being stabbed multiple times. Despite her wounds, she managed to call emergency services and urge the children to flee to safety.
In a gripping testimony, Leanne described the chaos that ensued as she and her colleague, Heidi Liddle, evacuated the children from the building. Heidi, overwhelmed by the sudden violence, locked herself in a restroom with a child while witnessing the brutal assault on Leanne.
Both instructors shared their accounts during a recent inquiry into the tragic event. Heidi detailed the frantic moments when she had to guide the children away from danger, even as Rudakubana attempted to break into the restroom where they were hiding.
The emotional toll of the attack has left both teachers scarred, with Heidi admitting to a lingering fear of darkness and guilt over her own happiness. They remain deeply affected by the children and families impacted by the tragedy, especially the three young girls who lost their lives – Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar.
Rudakubana, now 19, is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years for the heinous crimes he committed. The community continues to mourn the loss and support those affected by the devastating incident.