A girl was stabbed six times after shielding her younger sister during the mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift–themed dance workshop in Southport, the public inquiry into the attack heard on Monday.
The mother of the two survivors, who are anonymised in the inquiry as C2 and C7, told the Southport Inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall that her daughters were her "heroes" and described how their father found the eldest covered in blood outside the studio and fainted from the shock. The attack by Axel Rudakubana on 29 July 2024 at a studio on Hart Street left three children dead and seriously injured others.
The eldest sister, who survived, was stabbed in the chest and arm and later told her mother she had dragged her little sister in front of her to protect her. The mother said the older child then suffered "another six" stab wounds to the back and described to the inquiry how the girl said she felt as though she was being "repeatedly punched from the force." Both children were treated at Alder Hey Children's Hospital and survived.
Three children — nine-year-old Alice Aguiar, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and six-year-old Bebe King — were killed in the attack. Eight other children and two adults were seriously wounded.
The mother said the youngest initially thought the attacker had come to show the class teacher, Leanne Lucas, a new puppy. She recounted that after he attacked other children and the teacher, Rudakubana turned on the eldest, then stood over the younger sister with a knife raised.
Family members and other witnesses gave evidence about the chaotic aftermath, saying their lives have been permanently changed. The mother said she is on medication since the attack and that the event "reached into every corner of our family and left none of us the same." She told the inquiry she wanted answers.
Parents of other survivors urged the inquiry to expose what they said were missed opportunities by authorities. The mother of a child referred to as C4 said her daughter now spends her young life scanning her surroundings for danger and finds it difficult to trust men, weakening the bond with her father. Another parent said the knowledge that Rudakubana was "known to multiple agencies" was a burden the family carries daily and called for the inquiry to "shine a light into the darkest corners of the systems that failed."
The Southport Inquiry's first phase is examining Rudakubana's history and his dealings with relevant agencies, seeking to establish whether there were any missed opportunities to prevent the attack. Counsel and witnesses have been presenting testimony about the day of the assault and its ongoing impact on victims, families and the community.
Police and inquiry officials have previously said the investigation will also consider the security arrangements at community venues and how information about individuals of concern was shared between organisations. Hearings will continue as the inquiry seeks to piece together a full timeline of events, agency contact and decision-making in the months and years leading up to the attack.
The inquiry continues to hear evidence from families of survivors and others affected by the attack.