Southport stabbing: Heroic dance teacher who tried to save children during attack released from hospital
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A dance teacher who was stabbed in a Southport knife attack while trying to protect children has been discharged from hospital after being readmitted due to a deterioration in her condition.
Former primary school teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, was critically injured in a knife attack. Three girls died during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29.
She and a colleague are said to have helped protect up to 16 innocent children from the onslaught on a dance studio in the Merseyside coastal town.
Ms Lucas has now been discharged from hospital after being readmitted earlier this month with breathing problems, her friends said.
Her friend Ester, who has been sharing information on behalf of Ms Lucas’ family, wrote on a Southport community Facebook page: ‘Leanne has been discharged following further surgery and is now recovering surrounded by family and friends.
“Please continue to support Leanne by sharing her GoFundMe page widely and donating wherever possible. We have received so many lovely messages of well wishes, so many gifts and handmade crafts.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for their kindness during this incredibly difficult time.”
The news comes weeks after Ms Lucas’ condition appeared to worsen following another operation.
On August 15, an update on a GoFundMe page set up to support the instructor revealed that she had developed an infection and was having trouble breathing.
“Unfortunately, Leanne was admitted to hospital again this week due to breathing problems. She is awaiting surgery to have another drain put in her lung due to an infection,” the update reads. “Leanne had only just begun her road to recovery. Please keep her in mind and continue to support her as you have by sharing the page and donating what you can.”
So far, more than £36,000 has been raised for the fundraiser through 1,500 donations.
Six-year-old Bebe King, nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe were stabbed to death in class in July, and ten other people were injured.
Ms Lucas reportedly scheduled the two-hour dance and yoga class to coincide with school holidays and co-taught the class with Heidi Barlow. Ms Barlow was also injured in the attack, although less seriously.
18-year-old Axel Rudakubana has been charged with the murder of the three girls in Merseyside.
He is also accused of the attempted murder of yoga teacher Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes and eight children, whose names cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, as well as possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.
Soon after the attack, false claims about the suspect’s identity began to circulate online, with some posts speculating that he was a Muslim migrant who arrived in the UK by boat in 2023.
The misinformation helped spark far-right riots that shook the entire country. Since then, a total of 1,117 people have been arrested and 677 charges have been filed in connection with the unrest.
