Darryn speaks out on London Bridge horror
A narwhal tusk
THE hero who tackled London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan with a narwhal tusk has told of how he hopes to inspire change and help “unify this country”.
Talking for the first time, Darryn Frost said he is still recovering from the “traumatic events” and feels a “deep hurt” at not being able to save the jihadist’s two victims.
But he said he wanted to speak out to help tackle terrorism and raise cash for the families Khan has devastated. And he added: “I feel we all have a duty to challenge the spread of fear, hatred or intolerance within our communities.
“I hope the part I played in these terrible events can be used for good.”
Darryn, a civil servant, was among brave members of the public who fought convicted terrorist Khan as he lunged at people with knives.
Footage from November 29 shows Darryn wielding the tusk on London Bridge – but until now his identity was a mystery.
He is seen pinning Khan to the ground and being pulled away by an armed police officer before the fiend – who was wearing a fake suicide vest – is shot dead.
Tragically, by the time Khan was stopped he had killed Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23.
Darryn was at the same prisoner rehabilitation event in Fishmongers’ Hall at London Bridge, Central London, as Khan when the maniac launched his attack. Recalling how
Police yank Darryn off attacker before opening fire the horror unfolded, he said: “When we heard the noise from the floor below, a few of us rushed to the scene. I took a narwhal tusk from the wall and used it to defend myself and others from the attacker. Another man was holding him at bay with a wooden chair.
“I ran down the stairs, stood next to the man with the chair, and the two of us confronted the attacker.
“He had knives in both hands and, upon seeing me with the narwhal tusk, indicated he had an explosive device around his waist. The man next to me threw his chair at the attacker, who then started running towards him.”
Darryn, 38, passed the tusk to the man before racing to grab another one. When he returned, he saw the first tusk “shattered across the floor” and people fleeing.
He said: “Along with others, I pursued the attacker, tusk in hand, on to the bridge. We called out to warn the public and managed to restrain him to the ground.”
One of the heroes Darryn fought with was reformed ex-prisoner John Crilly, who sprayed Khan with a fire extinguisher after seeing his suicide vest.
The 48-year-old helped to push Khan back from Fishmongers’ Hall and told the Mirror days after the drama: “I keep spraying him, he can’t see and that gives the whale guy a chance to give him a poke.”
Darryn, a South African who has lived in London for 14 years, said he had omitted “many details” in his account,
DARRYN FROST ON HOW TO MAKE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
We all have a duty to challenge the spread of fear, hatred or intolerance