OUR BELOVED CHEEKY JULIAN
Family tribute to Brit massacre victim aged 7
THE family of Julian Cadman are mourning their “funny, cheeky” boy after he was named as one of 13 victims of the Barcelona atrocity.
They had launched a hunt for the British-born sevenyear-old, hoping he was only missing after his mum was hurt in the van attack.
They said: “We’re blessed to have had him in our life.”
They’re in a bad way, they’re finding it hard to accept NORMA CANAVERAL FRIEND OF JULIAN’S MUM
THE grieving family of seven-yearold terror victim Julian Cadman have told of their pain “beyond words” over the slaughter of their “much loved and adored” boy.
The British-born schoolboy was confirmed by police yesterday as one of the 13 people killed as a van ploughed through crowds of tourists in Barcelona.
In an emotional tribute his family said: “He was so energetic, funny and cheeky, always bringing a smile to our faces. We are so blessed to have had him in our lives, and will remember his smiles and hold his memory dear to our hearts.”
Julian, originally from Chiddingstone, Kent, was wrenched from his mum Jumarie in the attack on Las Ramblas on Thursday last week. Jumarie, known as Jom, could see no sign of her son amid the chaos after the massacre and was helped bleeding to a nearby pharmacy for shelter.
Despite her serious injuries she continued to plead for help finding her beloved boy. She remained in hospital in the city yesterday.
One woman was killed on Friday in a second vehicle attack in nearby Cambrils carried out by the same terror cell.
The Barcelona van driver was still being hunted last night, four suspects were under arrest, five were shot dead by police in the second attack and two sets of remains had yet to be identified after an explosion. Julian’s family had launched a search for the boy, who moved to Australia with his family three years ago. After he was initially classed as missing after the attack, grandad Tony Cadman urged people to share photos of the lad on social media in the desperate hope it would help trace him.
Dad Andrew flew from the family home in Sydney on Saturday to help search for him and to be with his injured wife in hospital.
But after DNA identified Julian as one of the dead, relatives thanked all those who had tried to help find him.
They said: “Your kindness was incredible during a difficult time.
“We also acknowledge we are not the only family to be affected by the events, our prayers and thoughts are with all people affected.”
Family member Debbie Cadman, who still lives in the UK, said the pain they were experiencing was “beyond words”. And Jumarie’s close friend Norma Canaveral of Plaistow, East London, said Julian’s parents “found it hard to accept” what had happened.
She said yesterday: “I spoke to them today – they are in a very bad way.
“It’s a very difficult time and they are finding it hard to accept.”
Julian and Jom, who is originally from the Philippines, were in Spain for the wedding of her niece.
Another tourist sheltering in the pharmacy with Jom told how she tried to comfort the distraught mum as she pleaded for help finding her lost son.
Kinde Dehr, 44, said: “She kept asking for her son. She was saying ‘Can you help me? Can you find my son? And ‘My boy’ and ‘Julian’. She was describing his
long hair. She was so distraught, she loved her son. I held her hand, that was all I could do.”
Ms Dehr from Birmingham is the sister of Harry Athwal, who the Mirror revealed on Saturday comforted an unknown child hurt in the horror.
She added: “She was in shock and had huge gashes on her head and her leg was badly broken and swelling.
“She was in such pain, but she never complained, she just wanted to know where her son was.”
Jom and Andrew were being supported by British and Australian consular officials yesterday.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “I send my sincerest sympathies to the family of Julian Cadman and all those who loved him. His death is a tragedy.
“The Foreign Office, our Australian colleagues and the Spanish authorities continue to do all we can to support the family at this deeply distressing time.”
Yesterday football fans filed into the city’s Camp Nou stadium, home of FC Barcelona, past newly erected yellow anti-terror bollards designed to prevent another van atrocity.
And earlier in the day Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia attended a mass at the city’s iconic Sagrada Familia cathedral – thought to have been a potential target for the terror cell.
Barcelona football club paid tribute to the victims and all those affected by wearing shirts with the city’s name on the back, rather than players’ names.
The superstars made the gesture in last night’s La Liga opener against Real Betis which they won 2-0.
The club said in a statement: “This is to pay homage to all the victims of the recent terror attacks in Barcelona. Aside from these acts to pay tribute, there will be a minute’s silence before kick-off to commemorate victims and offer support to their friends and relatives, and all citizens and visitors to the city.”