Families of Southport survivors share heartbreak – ‘they’re being forgotten’ | UK | News
The girls who survived the stabbing attack in Southport were “forgotten” and left without vital support after court-ordered anonymity left authorities unaware of their identity, their distraught parents have claimed. 23 girls survived an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga workshop in July 2024, when 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana carried out what has been described as the worst mass stabbing in modern British history.
Three girls, Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar, were killed. Rudakubana later pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder charges and was sentenced to at least 52 years behind bars.
Families of some surviving children say their daughters continue to live with devastating physical and psychological damage while having difficulty accessing long-term help. A girl was stabbed 33 times and dragged into the studio after escaping, according to her parents.
Another child lost his spleen and was left vulnerable to infection for life, while two sisters injured in the attack still sleep next to their parents due to recurring nightmares.
The parents said their children’s identities were protected by the court order, which was issued after prosecutors requested anonymity during legal proceedings.
While families support the measure, they believe it has led to unintended consequences. One mother said: “There are 23 girls wandering around this town and no one has any idea who they are.”
These statements emerged during a BBC investigation in which the broadcaster spoke to the parents of the five survivors; They all said they felt their daughters’ experiences had been lost in the public eye about the attack.
Some families claimed they missed out on support because councils and organizations either did not know who the children were or failed to co-ordinate help properly.
One mother said her daughter’s innocence had been “taken away”, adding that the child now constantly looks over her shoulder and is afraid to walk outside alone.
Another parent said authorities never informed them about available help.
He said: “I think we fell through the cracks.”
Victims Commissioner for England and Wales Claire Waxman described the families’ accounts as “deeply worrying” and said they raised “serious questions” about whether survivors had received appropriate support after “such extreme trauma”.
Lawyers representing 22 of the 23 surviving children also criticized confusion over the anonymity decision.
Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, of Fletchers Solicitors, said: “People are afraid to talk about these girls in important rooms where they need to be represented to access support.”
Sefton Council said it continues to support those affected through a dedicated recovery team working with partner organisations.
Lancashire County Council said it had contacted families through schools and would welcome further discussions about ongoing assistance.
The families now meet regularly and many of the girls attend dance and pilates classes together as they try to rebuild their lives.
One mother said: “They fight so hard every day to keep going. There’s so much more to them than the letters and numbers given next to their names in court.”
