London terrorist attack hero Ignacio Echeverría will be given a posthumous distinction for his bravery – in fact, the most prestigious award on record.
Metropolitan Police chief Helen Ball has written to Echeverría’s family, expressing the force’s ‘sincere condolences’ and inviting them to a ceremony hosted by the City of London Corporation at the Guildhall on December 4.
She said Ignacio’s ‘extraordinary acts of courage’ would be officially recognised at the event by granting him the Commissioners’ High Commendation – the highest level of distinction offered in the UK.
It will also be the first time the award has been given jointly by all three emergency services.
Ignacio (pictured), an analyst at HSBC living and working in the UK capital, lost his life helping a police officer fend off the three terrorists who, after ploughing through pedestrians on London Bridge, went on a random knife-wielding spree in the nearby Borough Market.
The Spaniard, who lived in Galicia until he was 11 and then grew up in Madrid, was riding his bicycle with his friends and carrying his beloved skateboard.
Seeing that the policeman was struggling and that back-up could take valuable seconds to arrive, Ignacio dropped his bike and began beating one of the terrorists with his skateboard – very probably preventing a few deaths or serious injuries in doing so – but was knifed in the back by another of the attackers.
He died in hospital hours later.
Ignacio has been dubbed ‘the skateboard hero’ by the British press ever since.