Queen’s award for skateboard hero of London Bridge
THE parents of a skateboarder who was killed as he confronted the London Bridge terrorists received their son’s bravery medal from the Queen yesterday.
Spanish banker Ignacio Echeverria, 39, was stabbed when he ran to try to help a woman who was being stabbed during last year’s attacks.
His parents were presented with the George Medal at Buckingham Palace. Two policemen also received the award for their actions.
At the ceremony Joaquin Echeverria Alonso spoke of his sorrow that his son could not collect the medal himself. He said it was ‘special but very emotional’ for him and his wife Miralles De Imperial Hornedo.
He added: ‘Since Ignacio’s death we have lived a year of intense emotions. There has been pain and love.’
Mr Alonso said Ignacio had told him he would have intervened had he been passing the Westminster Bridge attack three months before.
He added: ‘Later, during the attack at London Bridge, he demonstrated this through his actions.’
Mr Echeverria was cycling home from skateboarding when he came across the terror attack at Borough Market in June last year.
He jumped off his bike and hit a terrorist attacking a woman with his skateboard, before he was overpowered by two others behind him. He was one of eight people killed and 48 injured when three jihadis mowed down pedestrians on the bridge in their van then went on a stabbing rampage at the market before being shot dead by police.
Three police officers who intervened during the attack were also honoured by the Queen yesterday.
Off- duty Charlie Guenigault, 26, who was out with friends, ran to try to stop the attackers. He was given the George Medal along with another officer, Wayne Marques, 39. Both survived multiple stab wounds.
Leon McLeod, 30, who was on patrol with PC Marques, was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for chasing after the attackers and later helping treat the injured.