Man With Machete Thwarted By Kindergarten Nurse
By: Reuben Salsa
Tags: Schools, Salsa, Heroes, History, Writing

Teddy-bear’s picnic

On 8 July 1996, just four months after the Dunblane school massacre in Scotland, another attack took place.

Dunblane had witnessed sixteen children and their teacher murdered by a crazed gunman. This time, one brave, selfless nurse stood in the way of a machete wielding lunatic.

Nobody had seen the man run along the fence line. A small grey bag slung over his shoulder. The bag contained a sixteen-inch machete, a smaller knife, a bottle of petrol and two iron bars.

He was intent on causing harm. When he reached the fence, he swiftly pulled out his machete and slammed it down upon the head of Wendy Willington. No warning. Time froze as Wendy dropped her carrier bag and slumped to the ground. Blood gushing from the wound.

Teacher Dorothy Hawes shouted the order for everyone to run inside. The children of St.Luke’s School began to scream. The end-of-term teddy bear’s picnic was officially over.

Surinder, young Reena’s mum, who was happily chatting away to her friends and fellow mothers, Azra and Wendy, had turned away when the machete came smashing down. The blow struck Surinder in the head and she too collapsed to the floor.

The man, tall, black and wearing a trilby with a chin strap, then brought the blade down upon Azra. Three women now lay bloodied on the ground from head wounds. The man lurched over the fence trying to grab a child, but she was too fast.

All around Lisa children clustered. The bubbly 21 year old nursery nurse remained surprisingly calm despite all the screams around her. She saw Dorothy push as many children as she could back inside the school.

Lisa did the same, shoving the children through the open doorway only to realize that not all the children were there. She did a quick head count and ran back outside.

The man immediately noticed Lisa and rushed to get her, machete raised and ready to swing. As the blade came down, Lisa lifted both arms to protect her head from the descending knife.

The blade struck. Her left arm and hand were cut through. Her ulna bone protruding through her skin with the hand hanging from its tendons. Adrenaline surging through her body, Lisa felt no pain as her cardigan quickly became soaked in blood.

“The man’s lips were drawn back and there was the most frightening, angry grimace on his face,” Lisa recalled. “It was as if he was laughing.”

Angered by her intervention, the man slashed once more at Lisa, this time aiming his blade at the young Francesca. The little girl was clutching Lisa’s skirt tightly as she was being herded to safety.

Lisa threw out her injured left hand to divert the blow but not in time. The blade skimmed past her fingers and slashed poor Francesca across the face. Her whole left cheek was brutally exposed from ear to mouth. The child’s eyes glazed over as she collapsed.

The man turned his attention to the remaining children outside.

In the toy shed, Philippa Parlor was in a desperate battle to keep the man out. Her full weight behind the door with three children crying and screaming behind her. The man tried to wrestle the door open, pushing and shoving, but Philippa held on.

Lisa had now managed to get almost all the children into the nursery building. She could see the man at the far side trying to breach the toy shed. And there, in the playground, were two remaining children, Marium and little Ahmed.

Lisa had a decision to make. A pivotal moment. Should she remain and lock the door ensuring the safety of the children behind her? Or should she risk all trying to reach the remaining kids stranded and helpless in the playground. She didn’t hesitate. Lisa ran back out to the playground.

Marium and Ahmed raced towards Lisa, the man right behind them raising his machete to strike again. Ahmed tripped over.

The machete came down. Lisa swooped on Ahmed, scooping him up as the blade crashed down. Lisa had lifted her uninjured right hand to stop the blow. The machete sliced into her hand and cut open the top of Ahmed’s head.

Lisa ran. Ahmed in her arms, Marium at her feet, the vicious lunatic one step behind. Lisa reached the door and slammed it shut only for the man to wedge his foot in the door.

Blood was running down Ahmed’s head. He was still conscious but very quiet. Again, Lisa had a moment of calm. Despite her wounds and the screams, she was able to assess the situation.

Across where she was, at the reception classroom, sat 25 terrified children, temporary teacher Linda, injured mother Wendy and Francesca with the cheek wound. The door was slowly being forced open by the man.

Lisa’s back firmly pushing but her strength wasn’t holding up. In front were six or seven children including Reena and Surinder’s daughter whose right cheek had also been sliced open. Lisa knew she couldn’t lead the man towards the other children at the reception classroom.

Placing Ahmed on the floor, covering him in clothes so the man wouldn’t be able to find him, Lisa gathered the children towards her. She moved away from the door and bent over the children, trying her best to protect them. She thought this would be it. This would be the moment she dies and here would be her final resting place.

The man burst into the room and struck the machete down onto Lisa’s back. Once, twice he hacked before turning back to the open door. He must’ve seen another target. Adrenaline coursing through her body, Lisa was able to stand up and guide the children down the hallway.

Unbelievably she felt nothing but a deep throbbing from her wounds. Ahmed remained hidden under the clothes with only his feet protruding.

The man saw the movement and turned back once more.

The machete again sliced into Lisa. Her back now suffering more damage as she continued to run, herding the children to the nursery. Blood was pouring from her head wound. Blood was pouring out of her arm wounds. Blood was pouring down her back. She was a bloody mess…and yet she still fought. Grabbing a tray, she flung it back at her assailant as she raced to a far door which led to the main entrance of the school.

Her blonde hair matted red, Lisa stumbled through the door where she was greeted by the Head Teacher. The police were on their way along with an ambulance. Teaching was still being conducted in the other classes.

The attack had lasted less than five minutes and nobody except the nursery school were aware of what had just happened.