Nearly two years after the horrific attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, five girls who survived the stabbing spree have reunited. Their parents have spoken for the first time about their daughters' heroism and courage in dealing with critical injuries, scars and trauma.
The girls, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, met for a playdate that included pilates and dancing to Harry Styles. Their parents watched tearfully, recalling how the last time they were together was on 29 July 2024, when a hooded teenager attacked the gathering, killing three girls and injuring eight children and two adults.
One survivor, Daisy, then seven, was stabbed 33 times and lost her entire blood volume, leaving her in a coma for five days. Despite her injuries, she helped other girls escape by shielding them. Her mother said: 'I felt so devastated for her, that we’re at home building up this recovery for her, saying: “You saved yourself,” when the world has no idea what she’s done.'
Another survivor, Amber, eight, was shielded by Daisy during the attack. They were reunited in hospital, both wearing Lilo & Stitch nighties. Amber's older sister, Bethany, then ten, also suffered wounds while protecting her. Their mother said: 'She saved her sister’s life that day.'
Bella, then ten, was stabbed three times to the back with enough force to penetrate her chest wall. She was minutes from death when a Midlands air ambulance, coincidentally returning from an abandoned job, arrived. Her mother said: 'She had finished bleeding out – she had no blood pressure or anything – and would have died on the scene [if it wasn’t for that].'
The parents expressed concern that the bravery of the girls risks being forgotten. One mother said: 'The word “heroes” is thrown about and people are heroes for what they did on that day. They saved themselves, they got themselves out of this building, they ran [and] they did their absolute best when many of them were critically injured.'
