Bebe King was killed along with Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, when Axel Rudakubana launched his knife attack on the Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 29 last year
The family of Southport attack victim Bebe King have told how her light “lives on”. They issued a tribute today, on the eve of the first anniversary of the attack.
The six-year-old was killed along with Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, when Axel Rudakubana launched his knife attack on the Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town on July 29 last year.
A post on the Instagram account of Bebe’s Hive, set up by her parents Lauren and Ben, detailed the youngster’s “favourite musical” Wicked with the quote: “Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” Bebe’s Hive was set up by her family to provide support for grieving children. The post, which appeared to have been written by Bebe’s mother Lauren, referred to her as “my mini me” and “her dad’s soulmate”.
It went on: “It’s time for us to take the space we need. To feel, to breathe, to hold each other close. To just be. To be able to create something so purposeful, so needed, has given us a strength we didn’t know we had. A reason. A focus.
“We love and thank every single person who has helped us carry this. I feel her with me every day and that feeling is what keeps us going. Her light, her care, her spark – it lives on, and we’ll continue it for as long as we can.
“To our incredible family and friends, thank you for keeping us afloat, while trying to keep yourselves above water. Thank you for loving Bebe so deeply and for riding this forever journey with us.
“To our amazing community, I don’t think you realise what you’ve done. To everyone further, we also thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your kindness has saved us.
“To Elsie and Alice, we never had the chance to meet you, but we feel like we know you. Your light shines so brightly through your parents, and we’re proud to walk alongside them.”
In a reference to the Taylor Swift song Bejeweled, the post went on to say: “Our girls’ energy will continue to shimmer. And to every brave child, every adult, every family whose lives were changed forever that day, we see you and we’re sending you so much love.”
A video of Bebe dancing and playing with a bubble machine accompanied the caption, along with photos of her. Sefton Council asked people not to lay flowers to mark the anniversary of the attack.
They suggested donating to causes including Bebe’s Hive, as well as Elsie’s Story and Alice’s Wonderdance, which were set up in the victim’s memories.
A three-minute silence will be held in the town at 3pm on Tuesday. Sgt Greg Gillespie, one of the first officers at the scene of the tragedy, recalled the look of “fear and terror” in the faces of the people who flagged him down as he arrived.
“I don’t think there’s any amount of training or experience that can quite prepare you to deal with something like that or to process it,” he told the BBC.
“As a father, the thought of something like that happening to a child and then having to get up the next morning and try to proceed with your life is unfathomable. But the three sets of parents have not only done that… They’ve continued the legacy of their daughters’ names and they brought the community together.”