Teacher stabbed as she heroically shielded children from knife attacker with her body

A BRAVE dance teacher was repeatedly stabbed by the Southport killer as she used her body as a shield to protect terrified children, it was revealed yesterday.

- Chris Riches

Leanne Lucas, 35, acted heroically after a crazed knifeman stormed into a dance club on Monday.

Bebe King, six, Elsie Stancombe, seven, and Alice Aguiar, nine, were killed and five other youngsters left critically wounded after being attacked in a crime that horrified the world.

Also seriously injured were dance instructors Leanne and Heidi Barlow, also 35, and businessman Jonathan Hayes, 63, who raced over from his office to the studio and was stabbed in the leg after confronting the killer.

Now, as the adults are in a stable condition after surgery, Leanne's cousin has revealed the incredible act of sacrifice she made to protect the young children, by using her body as a human shield.