Yoga Instructor Discusses Heartbreaking Incident After Leading Inspiring Taylor Swift-Theme Session with Children

Beautiful Swifties” friendship bracelets adorned a sea of flowers and tributes placed outside the Atkinson Art Centre on July 31, 2024, in Southport, England.

In an interview with BBC posted Monday (February 24), Leanne Lucas, whose Taylor Swift-themed children’s dance and yoga class became the scene of a deadly stabbing last year in Southport, England, spoke out about the attack for the first time. The incident involved then-17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls and attempting to kill ten others at the July 2024 event.

During her sit-down with BBC, Lucas recounted in detail how Rudakubana burst into her studio armed with a knife. As he began attacking the children present, she sprang into action by calling police and urging everyone else to run for safety. It was then that Rudakubana turned his attention to Lucas herself.

“I just knew if I didn’t get out, everyone would die,” Lucas told the broadcaster through tears. “I thought he wasn’t going to stop until he killed us all.” Her injuries were severe, affecting her spine, head, ribs, lung, and shoulder blade.

Rudakubana was sentenced to 52 years in prison by Judge Julian Goose. The judge stated that the teenager would likely never be released. In addition to critically injuring multiple people during the incident on July 31, Rudakubana killed 9-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and 6-year-old Bebe King.

In her interview with BBC, Lucas recalled the pain of assisting other children in escaping while enduring severe injuries. Police have acknowledged that had it not been for her efforts along with fellow organizer Heidi, none of the surviving children would have made it out alive. Despite this acknowledgment, she still feels guilt over the three girls who were lost.

“That gives nothing for the children who did die,” Lucas stated. “I just don’t know what else I could have done.” The dance class was part of many Swift-themed events organized worldwide during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2023 and last year.

Before the attack, students were happily making friendship bracelets and chatting in a circle. Lucas remembered Aguiar commenting just before her death, “This is the best day of my life.”

Taylor Swift herself expressed shock at the attack on July 1, writing in a statement that she was overwhelmed by the horror of what had occurred and couldn’t convey adequate sympathy to those affected.

About a month after the incident, Swift hosted some survivors and their families during her London Eras shows. She personally greeted them backstage at Wembley Stadium as an expression of solidarity.

Lucas told BBC that she was still navigating life “an hour at a time” amidst her grief but found strength in being alive for Aguiar, Stancombe, and King. “The only reason to survive is the fact that I did get out and am alive,” Lucas said. “Otherwise, what’s the point?”