Bank worker who fought London Bridge terrorist with skateboard receives posthumous bravery honour
Ignacio Echeverria, who has been posthumously awarded the George Medal in this year's Civilian Gallantry list after tried to stop the knife-wielding terrorists with only his skateboard during the London Bridge terror attack. Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire - Credit: PA
A bank worker from Poplar who was killed after trying to fight off a terrorist using his skateboard has been posthumously honoured for his bravery.
Ignacio Echeverria, who worked in Canary Wharf, was one of eight people to be killed during the London Bridge attack last year.
The 39-year-old has now been recognised on this year’s Civilian Gallantry List, which awards those who have shown bravery in saving or attempting to save someone’s life.
Mr Echiverria, who was orignially from As Pontes, Spain, was stabbed in the back while trying to defend a woman with his skateboard.
He is posthumously awarded the George Medal for confronting armed terrorists to protect others.
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The awarding committee said: “Using his skateboard as a weapon, he was well aware that it was no match for the weapons that were being used by the assailants.
“Regardless, he ran towards them with the intention of stopping them from carrying out further attacks on innocent people who were in the vicinity.
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“It is beyond doubt that he displayed great courage in choosing to try to tackle the attackers.”
The George Medal is the second highest civilian honour available, and was also awarded to two police officers who were stabbed during the attack.
Pc Wayne Marques, who fought off the terrorists using his baton, said that he was accepting his medal “on behalf of all the services that pulled together that night and the members of the public”.
Off-duty Pc Charlie Guenigault, who came to Pc Marques’ aid, was also awarded a George Medal, while Pc Leon McLeod, who was Pc Marques’ partner on the night, was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.
A couple who rushed to Pc Guinegault’s aid, Ellen Gauntlett and Justin Jones, have been awarded the Queen’s commendation for bravery, as was bakery worker Florin Morariu, who threw bread crates at the terrorists and also provided shelter for those caught up in the attack.
The same honour was also bestowed on nurse Kirsty Boden, who was killed in the attack as she tried to save someone else’s life.
Terrorists Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba were all shot dead by armed police at the scene of the attack in June last year.
