A teenage survivor of the Southport attack described her ongoing nightmares to a public inquiry, saying she still sees the killer "coming towards me" and hears children's screams. The tearful girl told the hearing in Liverpool that the traumatic memories play "like a horror film on repeat".
The teenager was the eldest child attacked by Axel Rudakubana during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29 last year. Three young girls were killed in the attack: Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
Survivor's account of attack
The girl was helping with younger children when Rudakubana entered the room where they were making friendship bracelets. She described him as looking "possessed" and "not human" as he began his assault.
"I saw him stab someone in front of me and realised that he was going to hurt us all," she told the inquiry. "Then I saw him coming towards me. It felt like everything slowed down, all I could hear was the screaming."
She suffered stab wounds to her arm and back, causing a collapsed lung and broken bones. Despite her injuries, she managed to reach the door and helped push other children to safety, thinking "get them out, get everyone to safety".
Lasting psychological impact
The survivor explained how the attack has fundamentally changed her life, affecting her love of dancing, schoolwork and friendships. She described recovery as "incredibly lonely" and said being known as a "survivor" feels overwhelming.
"This will never fully go away," she said. "I can see my friends living their lives, without constant worries, but mine are always there just beneath the surface."
The teenager demanded answers from the inquiry, asking why Rudakubana wasn't stopped despite multiple opportunities for prevention. She questioned why agencies failed to communicate with each other and asked: "How many others are out there like him?"
The first phase of the inquiry is examining Rudakubana's history and any missed opportunities to prevent the attack. The hearing is expected to continue until November.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
