A British Transport Police officer who was stabbed in the face while confronting the London Bridge terrorists has apologised to the families of victims, saying he wishes he could have done more. The officer, who remains seriously ill with wounds to his head, arm and leg, was one of the first on the scene during Saturday night's attack.
“I feel like I did what any other person would have done,” he said in a statement. “I want to say sorry to the families that lost their loved ones. I’m so sorry I couldn’t do more and I want you to know I did everything I could.” He added: “Saturday night changed my life, like I’m sure it has for many others.”
As of Thursday, 29 victims remain in five London hospitals, with ten receiving critical care. The known dead include three French citizens, two Australians, one Canadian, one Spaniard and one Briton. Among them is French chef Sébastien Bélanger, 36, who was watching the Champions League final with friends at Boro Bistro when attackers struck. His girlfriend Gerda Bennet paid tribute on Facebook, describing him as “my best” and “the love you gave me will always be here.”
Another French victim, Alexandre Pigeard, 27, was a waiter at Boro Bistro. His family called him a “marvellous son, a perfect older brother and a radiant young man.” Australian nurse Kirsty Boden, 28, “ran towards danger” to help others, her family said. Other fatalities include Christine Archibald, 30, Sara Zelenak, 21, James McMullen, 32, and Ignacio Echeverría, 39.
Echeverría, an HSBC worker, was hailed as a hero for using his skateboard to confront the attackers. His sister Ana said: “Something very sad, very hard, is becoming more beautiful and grand.”
