Southport survivor, 7, ‘fought to save others’ says mum

The seven -year -old Southport victim, as the attack took place, “fought like hell” to save himself and others, his mother said a public investigation.

The Southport investigation at the Liverpool Town Hall was seriously injured during the attacks on July 29, 2024, but heard statements made by the families of four surviving girls.

The mother of one of these girls, called C1 to preserve its anonymity, was the “most painful” about the attacks by 17 -year -old Axel Rudakubana, and there was no adults to help her.

C1 was stabbed 33 times in Southport’s dance workshop on Hart Street and sent to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

His mother, CCTV images shown in the court, already injured C1’s dance studio building after capturing the moment he caught the moment he was known as “the girl dragged back,” he said.

He showed that Rudakubana caught him and pulled it back to the building to cause more damage before he escaped and finally collapsed on the street.

A silenced room in the town hall building heard that the injuries of C1 were “wide” and “most of his body and organs”.

His mother said: “The damage was a disaster. It was a hell that lived hours and days following the attack.”

The investigation heard that her daughter was attacked and she protected other children when they screamed to run.

He said that the actions of the teachers in the classroom did not doubt “a moment” that Leanne Lucas and Heidi Lidle help to save lives when they encourage children to escape.

However, he added: “The reality of our own reality is that our daughter has to save himself when adults leave in those first moments.

“These are the stories of this extraordinary power and courage that is missing when we hear the other accounts of this day.

“I think it is vital to hear these girls, so that the investigation can understand the complexities of this experience for everyone.”

“This reality is painful – our children fought alone, protected each other, relieved each other and helped each other, and this should be remembered.”

The investigation also heard from the father of C3, a nine -year -old girl who was critically injured that day.

His daughter’s investigation said: “He was stabbed three times by a coward he hadn’t seen.”

“He carries the scars on that scary day both physically and emotionally,” he said.

He continued: “We know that life is just a small way from the way to take it and that the obstacles will continue to offer themselves along the way.”

Another statement read by lawyer Nicola Ryan-Donnellly for the parents of the surviving girls, he said he remembered the “Creative” and “Lifetime” seven-year-old Rudakubana “trying to get his face”.

“Where he was once an independent and cheerful child, he now needs to support, assurance and protection,” his mother wrote.

The investigation was postponed until September 8, and the conditions of the attack and Rudakubana are expected to feel evidence of the contact with various agencies months and years ago.

The second stage, which is expected to begin next year, will look at the wider problems of how young people are withdrawn to “extreme violence”.