Hero stabbed while trying to wrestle knife from Southport attacker & save young girls after hearing screams from office
A HERO was stabbed as he tried to disarm the knifeman who launched a horrific attack on kids at a Taylor Swift-themed event.
Jonathan Hayes, 63, ran into the dance studio and tried to fend off the attacker moments after hearing screams from his nearby office.
He is understood to have been stabbed in the leg after placing himself between the knifeman and children.
The knife attack in Southport, Merseyside, yesterday left two children dead and six in a critical condition.
Two female teachers are also in a critical condition after trying to bravely defend the children.
Mr Hayes’ wife Helen, 57, said he had attempted to disarm the knifeman as chaos erupted shortly before midday.
She told The Telegraph: “He did. He heard screams.
“Our office is in the same building as the dance studio, he heard screams and went outside, saw the attacker, saw that he had hurt a child and tried to take the knife off him and got stabbed in the leg.”
She added: “I’ve been with him all afternoon at the hospital. He’s very upset that he wasn’t able to be more help. Physically he will be OK, mentally I don’t know.”
The children had been attending a Taylor Swift “yoga and dance” holiday club, having only just broken up from school for the summer, when the horror unfolded.
A 17-year-old boy from Banks, Lancashire, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, the force said.
What we know so far…
- Two children have died after being stabbed
- Nine other children were injured and six are in critical condition
- Two adults are also in critical condition after bravely trying to save the youngsters
- Armed police were called to the scene on Hart Street, Southport, at 11.50am
- A 17-year-old boy has been detained and a knife seized
- Patients have been taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Southport and Formby Hospital
- The attack is understood to have taken place at a Taylor Swift-themed event
Witnesses described the scenes as akin to “a horror film”, with cops still working to establish a motive for the attack.
One local said one of the adults injured in the attack locked herself in a room with children to protect them.
It comes as footage has shown a masked man pacing outside a nearby house shortly before the attack.
A newly released video from ITV shows an individual wearing a green hoodie and a face mask walking back and forth outside the front door of a separate property.
Doorbell footage then shows several police cars and a group of officers, including some who are armed, appearing at the same house.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: “Today, I’m here to advise that two children have died as a result of the injuries sustained in this morning’s knife attack.
“Nine other children have been injured, and six of them are in a critical condition.
“All those injured have suffered stab wounds sustained during the attack, and two adults are also in a critical condition after being injured during the incident.
“A 17-year-old male from Banks in Lancashire, who is originally from Cardiff has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
“And he’s been taken to a police station where he will be interviewed by detectives.
“My officers were called to reports of a stabbing at 11.47am, at an address in Southport.
“When they arrived they were shocked to find that multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a ferocious attack and had suffered serious injuries.
“It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender armed with a knife walked into the premises and started to attack the children inside.
“We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked.”
Cops have stressed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbing.
The suspect is said to have got out of a taxi minutes before noon before he launched his attack.
He is said to have accessed the Hart Space Studios because a door was left open amid sweltering heat.
The suspect then fled, before locals reportedly barricaded homes with the teenager later arrested soon after at a gym.
All the casualties are now being treated in hospitals, including children’s hospitals in Liverpool and Manchester.
The suspect is from Banks, a village outside Southport, and a road in the area was cordoned off by police on Monday afternoon.
Merseyside Police statement in full
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: “It is with great sadness that today I am here to advise that two young children have died as a result of injuries sustained in a knife attack this morning.
“Nine other children have been injured, and six of them are in a critical condition, all those injured have suffered stab wounds sustained during the attack.
“Two adults are also in a critical condition after being injured during the incident.
“A 17-year-old male from Banks in Lancashire, who was born in Cardiff, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and has been taken to a police station where he will be interviewed by detectives
“My officers were called to reports of a stabbing at 11.47am at an address in Southport.
“When they arrived they were shocked to find that multiple people, many of whom were children, had been subjected to a ferocious attack and had suffered serious injuries.
“It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender, who was armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack those inside.
“We believe that the adults who were injured were trying to protect the children at the time they were attacked.
“As a mum of two daughters, and the nanna of a five-year-old granddaughter, I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering the families of the victims are currently going through and I want to send them our heartfelt condolences and sympathies.
“Our specialist family liaison officers are providing support to the families at this terrible time.
“I would appeal to anyone who witnessed anything, or who has information that could help our investigation or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“Anyone who has been affected by this incident, can contact our Victim Care Merseyside service for help and support.
“Our hub of local, trained staff is here to provide free, emotional and practical support tailored to your needs.
“You can contact Victim Care Merseyside for help whether you have reported a crime to the police or not by calling Freephone 0808 175 3080 on weekdays between 8am and 6pm or request support online at any time at www.victimcaremerseyside.org.”
Colin Parry, the owner of nearby Masters Vehicle Body Repairs, told The Guardian he had a heated exchange with a young man he believes to be the attacker moments before the attack.
Moments later, he said he received a phone call from a colleague who had run to the dance studio after he heard “screaming that wasn’t normal”.
The summer event is understood to have been fully booked” and “was attended by 25 youngsters with activities including a dance and yoga workshop and bracelet making.
Event information, which is still available to view on social media, adds that the class was “open to children in Year 2 – Year 6.”
The King said on Monday evening he and the Queen had been “profoundly shocked” to hear of the “utterly horrific incident in Southport today”.
The Prince and Princess of Wales said: “As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through.
“We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack.
“Thank you also to the emergency responders who, despite being met with the most horrific scenes, demonstrated compassion and professionalism when your community needed you most.”
