A harrowing account of bravery has emerged from the Southport yoga studio stabbing incident, where instructor Leanne Lucas and several young survivors fought against time and terrifying odds to save children from the rampage of Axel Rudakubana. On July 29, 2024, Rudakubana, then 17, unleashed violence at the Hart Space during what was meant to be a joyful Taylor Swift-themed dance class, leading to the tragic deaths of three young girls.
Nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and six-year-old Bebe King were killed during the attack, which injured ten others, including Lucas. The 18-year-old Rudakubana was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years for his actions, but the scars of the attack go far beyond his prison term.
Speaking for the first time about the attack, Lucas recounted her instinctual response as Rudakubana barged through the door, initially grabbing children one after another. She vividly remembers the moment she was stabbed. "I just felt something go in my back…and my brain just said: He’s got me. So he got me and then he got me again. But I just knew if I didn’t get out, everyone was going to die," she said during her appearance on BBC Panorama.
Despite suffering multiple stab wounds to her spine, lungs, ribs, and shoulder blade, Lucas demonstrated remarkable bravery. With her friend and fellow instructor Heidi Liddle, she managed to guide several children to safety, shouting, "Run!" to alert others of the danger. "I called 999 from the landing and asked for the police. I just wanted everyone to get out of the building. I just kept saying, ‘There are children inside,’" she recalled.
Another survivor, 14-year-old Sarah, whose name has been changed for her protection, described the chilling scene. "I saw him stab a child right in front of me. Then I felt the knife pierce my arm. I didn’t feel it at the moment because of the adrenaline," she stated. Adrenaline was the fuel she needed to push other young girls, who were frightened and huddled together, to escape down the stairs.
Reflecting on their desperate situation, Sarah believed the attacker was determined to kill them all. "I thought he wasn’t going to stop until he killed everyone. I thought he wanted to kill us all," she said, her voice shaking with the weight of the memory.
Eyewitness accounts from the scene paint a picture of chaos and terror as local residents rushed to aid the injured. Steve, who lived nearby, described how Sarah, bleeding from her injuries, led frightened children to safety. "Everyone was (in) blind panic," Sarah recounted. Steve responded to their pleas, guiding children safely inside his home.
James Dixon, who was working at the garage next to Hart Space, heard the desperate screams for help. He rushed to assist, recalling, "You can tell the difference between screams of play and screams of terror. This was terror. It was nightmares, pain. They were terrified." He went straight to one child who had collapsed, assuring her she would be okay even though he was terrified she might not recover.
Upon hearing the police sirens, the situation had not calmed. Chaos permeated the area as parents, overwhelmed with panic, searched for their children. Leanne, shaking and still dazed from her injuries, felt the weight of survivor's guilt. "My brain is going 100 miles an hour, but my body won’t do anything. I don’t know what else I could’ve done," she expressed, anguish evident on her face.
After the attack, the violence continued to develop, compounded by social media misinformation. False narratives blaming Leanne and mischaracterizing the attacker proliferated, leading to riots across the UK. Lucas found herself the target of social media vitriol, which only compounded her trauma. "I was scared of everybody. I still think it’s all my fault," she admitted, noting the daily struggles of living with such trauma.
The attack has sparked calls for increased awareness of mental health and safety protocols, especially surrounding youth events. Local officials and community members have demanded accountability and more protective measures to prevent future tragedies like this.
During the sentencing of Rudakubana, Judge Mr Justice Goose noted the harrowing impact of the attack, stating, "He did everything he could and every family must live with this horror. We owe it to these innocent young girls and all those affected to deliver the change they deserve."
Despite the anguish and loss, Lucas remains committed to honoring the memories of Alice, Elsie, and Bebe. Reflecting on her role during the crisis, she says, "The only reason to survive is the fact I lived and they didn’t. I’ve got to stay alive for them, otherwise, what’s the point?" For Lucas and Sarah, sharing their stories serves as both catharsis and awareness to prevent another tragedy.
With the Southport community still grappling with the aftermath, both survivors advocate for change. They hope their experiences will educate and encourage vigilance, ensuring no one else faces such unimaginable horror again.