SOUTHPORT (United Kingdom), July 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A third child died on Tuesday after a mass stabbing in Southport, northern England that had already killed two children and left five others critically injured, police said.
The nine-year-old girl identified as Alice Aguiar died as a result of injuries sustained in the knife attack on Monday, as Merseyside Police also confirmed the two earlier fatalities were girls aged six and seven.
Five children and two adults remain in critical condition.
A personal trainer who intervened in the attack in Southport has been described as “truly fearless” by colleagues.
Joel Verite – who also works as a window cleaner – was nearby when he heard screams from a woman who had fled the scene.
She told him about what was happening inside, and he went straight in to confront the man before waiting for police to arrive.
“In that situation no one knows how they’re going to react, no one knows if their fight or flight is going to kick in,” says Verite’s colleague at the Level Up gym in Southport, Kyle Shaw.
“I think he was truly fearless and I’m so personally so proud of him. What a hero, to go in in that situation amongst all that chaos, and just completely zone out of any panic and go in and help sort the situation out.
“What a hero and what a man.”
Shaw says Verite also carried one child away from the scene. He was not physically injured in the incident, Shaw adds. — NNN-AGENCIES