Andrew Franks, a 53-year-old chef from Bury, Greater Manchester, is to receive a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award, in partnership with P&O Cruises, for Outstanding Bravery after confronting a terrorist who attacked the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur. Despite being stabbed three times and nearly dying three times, he raced to protect hundreds of worshippers inside the building.
Attack on the holiest day
Andrew, who had been volunteering as a security guard at his family synagogue for about a year, was called in to cover at the last minute on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. He recalls noticing a man standing alone outside the shops, taking photos of the synagogue, and having a strange feeling something was going to happen.
At around 9.30am, the attacker rammed his car into the gate. Andrew rushed to help, but the man, Jihad Al-Shamie, stabbed him three times while shouting that he was going to kill him. Andrew shouted “lock the doors” and ran inside, where worshippers barricaded the doors while his 80-year-old father held him as he bled from his neck.
Heroic intervention
Andrew was chased and attacked again, but escaped and was let into the synagogue by one of the congregation. His intervention delayed the attacker long enough for hundreds of people inside the building, which has a capacity of 850, to barricade the doors. Al-Shamie, 35, pounded on the windows and smashed pots against the doors, but was shot dead by firearms officers.
Sadly, a stray round passed through the doors and killed Adrian Daulby, 53, an old school friend of Andrew, as well as injuring Yoni Finlay. Melvin Cravitz, 66, had been fatally stabbed outside the gates, while security guard Bernard Agyemang was injured after being struck by the car. Andrew’s father Ellis Franks, now 81, held his son’s wounds until medics arrived.
Life-changing injuries
Andrew’s wife Rama died last March after battling cancer for 15 years. He has not yet been able to return to work for the NHS Greater Manchester Mental Health Unit and is still receiving treatment. The attacker had cut through Andrew’s facial and eye nerves, leaving him with difficulty eating, and he also suffered a skull and spinal fracture.
Andrew says he was in theatre for nine-and-a-half hours and in hospital for a fortnight. He was told he nearly died three times on the operating table. He is still having nightmares and seeing a trauma psychologist, and his eye will not shut properly. He says he hopes his eating will improve but there is no guarantee.
Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Constable for Greater Manchester Police, says Andrew’s actions undoubtedly prevented further loss of life and that had the terrorist got into the synagogue, he would have committed mass murder. Andrew’s sister Joanne Gordon says she couldn’t be prouder of her little brother, and his daughter Tamara adds that he put himself at risk to help save others.
