Spain honours ‘skateboarding hero’ after heroics in London Bridge attack
Spain honours ‘skateboarding hero’ after heroics in London Bridge attack: Ignacio Echeverría the Spanish skateboarder, the skateboarder had died from Saturday’s terror attacks in London, Mr Echeverria has been posthumously awarded one of Spain’s highest honours.
Mr Echeverria had been deemed worthy of the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit for his bravery by the government.
In order to save a stabbed woman Echeverría had reportedly tried to fight off the terrorists with his skateboard. Mr Echeverria had become one of the eight victims of the assault on the London Bridge area.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy earlier in the week had praised his “heroic and exemplary act” and also recommended that he receive the award.
The foreign ministry in Madrid added: “His bravery in standing up for a defenceless person is a reminder of the need to remain united in the face of the scourge of terrorism.”
On Saturday, 3rd June 2017, night, Echeverría, 39, was passing through the Borough Market after an evening of skateboarding with friends nearby. Guillermo Sánchez, the friend who was accompanying Mr Echeverria at the time, told a newspaper that they had been on their way to dinner when they saw a man on the street and assumed that they had stumbled into a drunken brawl.
Afterwards the couple saw a police officer fall to the ground and a woman being assaulted.
Sánchez told the paper “I’m focusing on her and then, suddenly, I see that Ignacio’s there, starting to hit [the attackers] with his skateboard.”
According to the family Afterwards, Echeverría was attacked by the terrorists and he was last seen lying on the ground.
While his friends managed to get away.
Mr Echeverria’s death was confirmed on Wednesday, 07th June 2017, after his family had waited several days for information.
A Vigil was held in his honour on Thursday, 08th June 2017, at Las Rozas, his hometown on the outskirts of Madrid, the vigil was attended by thousands.
A newspaper has reported that a new skateboarding park will be named after him.
On social media the sister of Mr Echeverria’s Isabella said “My brother Ignacio tried to stop the terrorists and lost his life trying to save others”
Echevarría was working for the HSBC bank in London, he was part of the team fighting money laundering.
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