Parents of bank worker who fought London Bridge terrorist with skateboard collect posthumous bravery honour
Joaquin Echeverria Alonso and Maria Miralles De Imperial Hornedo receive the George Medal awarded to their late son, Ignacio Echeverria, from Queen Elizabeth II, during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire - Credit: PA
A bank worker from Poplar who was killed after trying to fight off a terrorist using his skateboard has recieved a posthumous bravery award.
Ignacio Echeverria was killed while trying to defend a woman with his skateboard during the London Bridge terrorist attack. Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire - Credit: PA
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’s parents, Joaquin Echeverria Alonso and Maria Miralles De Imperial Hornedo, collected the George Medal in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace today (Thursday).
It was awarded to him for ‘confronting armed terrorists in order to protect others at London Bridge’.
Mr Echeverria, originally from As Pontes, Spain, was stabbed while trying to defend a woman with his skateboard during the attack on June 3, 2017.
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The awarding committee said of him: “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.”
Mr Alonso said the Queen asked him about his son’s bravery on the night of the attack - particularly that he had tried to use his skateboard to fight off the terrorists.
Through a translator Mr Alonso, who had flown to London from Madrid, said the day was a “special moment but very emotional”.
He said: “To recognise the courage of my son, he will be remembered. He was a generous man and he helped when it was necessary.”
Three police officers who responded to last June’s terror attack have also collected bravery awards.
Pc Wayne Marques, who was stabbed repeatedly as he fought off the terrorists at London Bridge, was awarded the George Medal alongside Pc Charlie Guenigault, who was off-duty at the time and came to Pc Marques’ aid.
Pc Leon McLeod, who was Pc Marques’ partner on the night, received the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.
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.
