London terror attacks: Football fan hero stabbed as he charged towards terrorists
A HERO football fan was stabbed five times as he charged towards three machete-waving terrorists to save the life of a fellow drinker, proud friends said today.
Millwall supporter Roy Larner, 47, was repeatedly stabbed during eight minutes of carnage that unfolded in the capital on Saturday night.
Without thinking of his own safety the brave father threw a volley of pint glasses and bar stools at three jihadists who had got out of their crashed van and gone on the rampage.
Their vehicle had mounted the pavement and hit several people, before crashing near the Barrowboy and Banker pub, on London Bridge.
I got a phone call from his partner Tracey on Sunday morning and she said 'I'm afraid Roy's been stabbed
Roy's friends said he "stuck it to" the attackers after refused to let them get past without a fight but his selfless actions left him with horrific knife wounds to the head, neck, back and fingers.
His bravery prompted friend and British soldier Archie Webber Brown to start a campaign to get the football fan, whose nearby team is called The Lions, the George Cross, Britain's second highest honour for gallantry.
Roy's mother Phyllis, 78, said: "I got a phone call from his partner Tracey on Sunday morning and she said 'I'm afraid Roy's been stabbed'.
"I couldn't believe it, she said he had been stabbed in the back of the neck, the blood must have been all over his head which is why I think they thought he was stabbed in the head. His friends had rung his teenage daughter to tell her what had happened.
"I'm not surprised that he tried to stop them from attacking people, he will stand up to anyone.
"He's out of intensive care now, he should be out of hospital soon."
Friend Simon Willoughby said Roy "stuck it to them" during the chaos adding: "Roy has been a friend of mine for for the past 20 odd years.
"When the terrorists attacked he went and stuck it to them and saved a person's life, but in doing so got stabbed five times in the head, neck, back, front and cut all his fingers."
The father-of-one underwent emergency surgery at St Thomas' Hospital and was kept in intensive care.
Police storm London Bridge pub ordering people to take cover
Friend Jayne Jacob said: "Roy got caught up in the terror attack at London Bridge and was badly injured whilst protecting lives.
"A Millwall supporter and in my mind a proper hero and deserves our support and aid to help him on his recovery."
More than 1,000 people have signed Archie's petition, which says: "Roy charged at the terrorists on London Bridge in order to try and stop them and help others escape, he ended up getting himself stabbed multiple times showing great courage and preparing his body for the ultimate self sacrifice to help others, he should be acknowledged and rewarded for his actions."
Roy's act of heroism comes as it emerged terrified revellers threw pints glasses, bottles and chairs at the rampaging maniacs while a black cab driver with a fare in the back spun his taxi round and tried to mow the terrorists down as they embarked on their reign of terror. ISIS have claimed responsibility for the attack.