What we know about the victims of the Southport stabbings
The inquests into the deaths of the three girls who were fatally stabbed in Southport have been opened and adjourned.
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, died after a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at the Hart Space on Monday 29 July. Their inquests were formally opened at Bootle Town Hall in Merseyside on Wednesday.
Senior coroner Julie Goulding said it was “impossible to adequately articulate the devastating lifelong effects of the truly tragic events of Monday, July 29”.
It comes after a service for Alice took place at St Patrick’s Church in Southport on Tuesday afternoon. One speaker fought back tears as she said: “Alice, you are the most beautiful, strongest girl in the world and I hope you know we love you from the bottom of our hearts. Keep smiling and dancing with the girls.”
She read out another message from the family, which said: “We love you Alice, Your smile is extremely contagious and full of joy. You never fail to uplift everyone’s mood.”
On Tuesday Alder Hey Hospital confirmed that all children admitted to its site with injuries linked to the attack had now been safely discharged.
Axel Rudakubana, 17, from Lancashire, is set to stand trial next year after being charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Alice Aguiar
The first child victim to be named was nine-year-old Alice Aguiar - who police said had died on Tuesday morning following the incident the previous day.
Confirming she was one of the victims, Merseyside Police released a tribute from her family which said: “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you’re always our princess and no one would change that. Love from Your Hero Daddy and Mummy.”
Churchtown Primary in Southport said Alice was a year 4 pupil at the school and Bebe was a former pupil. Headteacher Jinnie Payne said: “Alice’s radiant smile brightened our days, and she embraced every aspect of school life with enthusiasm and joy.
“Her kindness, playful nature, and zest for trying new things will forever be remembered.”
At a church service, one of Alice’s classmates said: “You will be in our hearts forever. You are the most kindest person in the world, and we know that you are the strongest girl we have ever met.”
A member of staff from Alice’s school read out messages from her classmates, including one which said: “Alice, so kind and caring, with a smile so bright, forever in our hearts.”
Bebe King
Bebe King, six, was also at the Taylor Swift event when she was fatally stabbed.
A statement from her family said: “No words can describe the devastation that has hit our family as try to deal with the loss of our little girl Bebe.”
Churchtown Primary said Bebe was a former pupil at the school.
Payne said: “Bebe was a joyful girl, whose kindness radiated through the entire Churchtown community.
“Her considerate nature meant that she had many friends and she always ensured all children felt included, whether that was through play or working together in the classroom.”
Elsie Dot Stancombe
Elsie's mother, Jenni Stancombe, has not released a statement directly about the death of her daughter but has condemned the violent unrest in Southport on Tuesday night.
In a message widely shared online, Ms Stancombe said: "This is the only thing that I will write, but please stop the violence in Southport tonight. The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don't need this."
Farnborough Road Infant School headteacher Jennifer Sephton said the school was “heartbroken and devastated” by the death of their pupil Elsie.
Elsie’s great-aunt described her as “lovely, sweet and gentle”, BBC News reported. Jean Stevenson said her grand-niece was “absolutely the sweetest child you could ever wish to meet”.
Leanne Lucas
Leanne Lucas, 35, was left in a critical condition in hospital after trying to fight off the attacker. One of the charges against Rudakubana is the attempted murder of Lucas.
Lucas, who is understood to be a former primary school teacher, was one of the organisers of the Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop at the Hart Space.
A friend of Lucas wrote on Facebook that she has now been discharged from hospital but “continues to be in a lot of pain”.
John Hayes
Businessman John Hayes, 63, was stabbed while trying to disarm the alleged Southport attacker and said he thought he was going to be killed. Hayes was stabbed in the leg during the knife attack last Monday.
Hayes, who has since been discharged from hospital, said he was taken on a stretcher to a road which had become a “makeshift holding area” and was in “quite a lot of pain”.
Asked if he felt he was a hero, he told ITV News: “I’m not going sit here and tell you that I was brave about the whole thing and confronting a knifeman, that’s not the story at all.
“And as I’ve said to everybody that’s asked, I don’t want this to be about me. I want this to be about the families of those three little girls. I’m really, really saddened to hear what’s happened and it’s going to take me a while to come to terms with that, it really is.”
Asked how he was doing with trying to come to terms with it, he said: “Not great. Last night I had a few flashbacks which weren’t pleasant. I’m still in quite a lot of pain, but I can get round, I’m hobbling around learning how to lose use crutches. Helen (his wife) has been hugely supportive.”
