Southport stabbings: Stabbed man who fought attacker 'very upset he couldn't do more'

A businessman who was stabbed in the leg as he tried to save children from being attacked in Southport has told his wife of his regret over "not being able to do more".

Jonathan Hayes, 63, was stabbed in the leg after placing himself between the knifeman and children in an attempt to disarm the attacker as he entered the Taylor Swift dance workshop.

The attack, which is believed to have happened just after 11.45am on Monday, has left two children dead and six more fighting for their lives in hospital.

The main suspect, arrested shortly after a search was conducted at a property in Banks, Lancashire, is a 17-year-old male who officers claim was born in Cardiff but most recently resided in Banks.

The youth who cannot be named for legal reasons remains in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

Mr Hayes’ wife Helen told The Telegraph: "Our office is in the same building as the dance studio, he heard screams and went outside, saw the attacker, saw that he had hurt a child and tried to take the knife off him and got stabbed in the leg.

"I’ve been with him all afternoon at the hospital. He’s very upset that he wasn’t able to be more help. Physically he will be OK, mentally I don’t know.”

Mr Hayes has described to his wife some of what he saw during the confrontation: "I understand the attacker entered the building and went up the stairs and on the left-hand side at the top of the stairs is the dance studio. On the right-hand side is our office. It was on the landing. It’s quite small.

"He didn’t know but he just said it was a big knife, it made quite a big wound. Not a penknife certainly. Why you target little girls, I don’t know."

It is believed that Mr Hayes’ injuries are not life-threatening and that he will undergo surgery today.

Police estimated that about 25 children were attending the event. The venue, a hypnobirthing centre, also serves as a children's activity hub during school holidays, offering activities such as dance and crafts.

During a press conference on Monday afternoon, it was revealed that North West Ambulance Service attended to 11 individuals at the scene. Eight of them - six children and two adults - are currently in serious condition in hospital.

It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift themed dance class, organised to coincide with the start of the summer holidays.

A local resident, who lives with his mother in the street, revealed that he saw emergency workers carrying children "covered in red, covered in blood".

"She said she could see the stab wounds in the backs of the children. All this stuff never really happens around here," he said.

"You hear of it, stabbings and stuff like that in major cities, your Manchesters, your Londons. This is sunny Southport. That's what people call it. The sun's out. It's a lovely place to be."

Resident Joanne Newman rushed home from work to check on her daughters after hearing about the horrific attack in Southport.

She revealed that her elder daughter, who had been escorting her younger sister to a friend's house, heard a "sinister scream" around the time of the stabbing.

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy acknowledged the support provided by Counter-Terrorism Police North-West.

She said: "It is understood that the children were attending a Taylor Swift event at a dance school when the offender, who was armed with a knife, walked into the premises and started to attack those inside.

"We believe that the adults who were injured were trying to protect the children at the time they were attacked.

"As a mum of two daughters, and the nanna of a five-year-old granddaughter, I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering the families of the victims are currently going through and I want to send them our heartfelt condolences and sympathies."

"Our specialist family liaison officers are providing support to the families at this terrible time."