A hero nurse who saved children from a machete attack in a school playground during a chillingly similar attack to the Southport stabbings is ‘absolutely heartbroken’ by the tragedy.
Lisa Potts, 49, was severely injured and almost had her arm severed after a knifeman went on the rampage following a teddy bear’s picnic at St Luke’s Primary School in Wolverhampton in 1996.
Paranoid schizophrenic Horrett Campbell entered the playground and began indiscriminately attacking children and adults with a blade – in what was the last case of its kind in 28 years until Monday’s tragic events.
Lisa, who was 21 at the time, was among three adults who were injured along with three infant class pupils on July 8, 1996.
She almost had her arm severed trying to protect the children in her care and also suffered severe cuts to her head and back.
Lisa Potts was severely injured after a knifeman went on the rampage following a teddy bear’s picnic at St Luke’s Primary School in Wolverhampton in 1996
Paranoid schizophrenic Horrett Campbell injured three adults and three children during the 1996 attack and was detained indefinitely in a psychiatric hospital
Bebe King, six, was the youngest child killed at the holiday club in Southport, Merseyside on Monday
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was also killed in the attack – her grieving mother has since called for calm
Alice, nine, died in the early hours of Tuesday after a hooded knifeman entered the Taylor Swift-themed holiday club and began stabbing the children in attendance
Since Monday’s horror attack, which left five other children and two women in a critical condition in hospital, two teachers who were leading the holiday club have bee praised as ‘heroes’ due to their efforts to protect the children in their care.
Leanne Lucas, 35, who organised the dance, yoga and bracelet making class is among the victims fighting for her life in hospital after the ‘ferocious attack’ that left three children dead.
The primary school supply teacher – who now teaches children’s yoga workshops – suffered stab injuries after a man entered the venue through the unlocked door, which was left open amid the heat, and started attacking children.
Ms Lucas and her co-organiser and dance teacher Heidi Barlow, also 35, saved 16 children of the 25-strong class aged between six and 11.
On Tuesday it was reported that Ms Lucas managed to lead some of the children at the event to safety through a fire escape before she was critically injured by the knifeman.
Her colleague Heidi Barlow, also 35, managed to escape serious injury and save several children by locking herself inside a toilet with them.
Last night Southport was rocked by riots which left dozens of officers injured as well as three police dogs.
Merseyside police said it believed many of those present were supporters of the far-right English Defence League and were not local to the area.
In 1996, the youngsters were just inches from tragedy – only saved by quick-thinking Ms Potts’ decision to hide them under her long skirt.
Mother-of-two Ms Potts has now told how the Merseyside stabbings have left her lost for words and said: ‘My heart is breaking’.
Leanne Lucas, 35, who organised the Taylor Swift-themed class, saved many children’s lives on Monday and is fighting for her life in hospital
Heidi Barlow, 35, a fellow dance teacher who was also injured in the attack, managed to lock children inside a toilet with her to protect them from the knifeman
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, died after being attacked at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club by a 17-year-old knifeman.
Ms Potts said: ‘It’s absolutely heartbreaking to hear about this shocking incident.
‘I’m lost for words that something like this can be happening.
‘My heart is breaking and my thoughts go out to the families of the children who have gone, those left with life-changing injuries and to the whole Southport community.
‘I can’t express just how sad I am. In our situation all those years ago we were thankful that there were no deaths although there was much trauma to deal with in the aftermath.
‘I was thinking only just recently that there had been no further tragedies like this involving a large children’s group setting in the UK since what happened at St Luke’s.
‘It’s deeply affected me today much more than I thought it would. I can’t imagine what those poor parents and children witnessed at the scene. It’s just so terrible.’
At a vigil held in the the town last night, wellwishers left candles, flowers and stuffed animals
Lisa Potts has been awarded the George Medal for her bravery and was last year made a freewoman of Wolverhampton
Campbell was convicted of seven counts of attempted murder in 1997 and was ordered to be detained indefinitely in a secure mental hospital.
When his trial ended at Stafford Crown Court, the judge recommended a bravery award for Ms Potts because of the way she shielded the children from his blows despite her injuries.
The nurse has since been the recipient of numerous awards for her courageous actions including the George Medal, awarded by Elizabeth II in 1997, and she was also made a Freewoman of the City of Wolverhampton two years ago.
The Freedom of the City was presented to her for her bravery as well as in recognition of her work as nurse for the NHS and as a charity organiser since the incident.
The charity worker accepted the freedom medal watched by several of her former St Luke’s colleagues as well as former pupils who she later helped to support in recovery from their own injuries.
During Monday’s attack five children and two adults were also left in a critical condition at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class organised by dance coach Leanne Lucas.
She is thought to be among those injured during the attack as she bravely tried to fend off the intruder.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody accused of murder and attempted murder.
Police have said that, although the motive for the attack is unclear, it is not believed to be terror-related and the suspect was born in the UK.
