Good Morning Britain’s emotional tribute to the young victims of a senseless tragedy left viewers reaching for tissues today. The ITV morning show featured heart-wrenching interviews with the parents of Southport’s sweethearts, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King, whose lives were cruelly taken by Axel Rudakubana during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29.
Elsie was just seven, while her friend Bebe was six when they were tragically murdered along with nine year old Alice da Silva Aguiar at The Hart Space in Southport. In a television first, the devastated parents bravely shared their stories, moving hosts Ed Balls, Susanna Reid, and everyone watching to tears.
Grieving Jenni and David, Elsie’s mum and dad, shared how they will “never feel true happiness again” after the brutal loss of their daughter, who they lovingly described as being “so much more than that school picture”. Reflecting on the horrific day, Jenni painfully recounted: “We just dropped her off to dance and make bracelets, that’s all we did. It was something nice for her to do for a couple of hours in the first week of the school holidays.”
She added: “There’s a lot that’s gone over that we should never have sent her but she wanted to go so much. We’ve spoken about it a lot and we’ve said, ‘She was in the right place and where she wanted to be.'”
David added: “All the kids there had every right to be there and had a right to feel safe,” reports the Mirror.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Jenni broke down, sharing: “If we had been there, it wouldn’t’ have happened. I might not be here but I would never have let that happen. I’d swap with Elsie any day.”
Viewers were left reaching for the tissues after an incredibly touching interview aired, which saw a couple bravely open up about their deeply personal loss. Social media was soon flooded with messages of support and admiration for their strength.
“That was utterly heartbreaking to watch, those poor people,” a viewer commented on Twitter. “Such courage and dignity…my heart goes out to them and their families,” another shared.
A third post read: “Wow – what amazing humans – so very sad for them and hope they can somehow carry on.”
Another person expressed their empathy, writing: “Such a beautiful yet powerful interview we were all in tears for the family I don’t know how they are managing every day things, sending love and hugs to their whole family xxxxx,” and thanked the Good Morning Britain team for handling it beautifully: “You and the @GMB team did a wonderful job showing and making the videos thank you.”
The touchingly sombre piece also included praise for a “heartbreaking tribute”, as one viewer remarked: “Elsie was clearly a bright spark in this world, and it’s so important to remember that every picture tells just one part of the story. Sending strength to her family-nobody should have to go through such pain.”
Axel Rudakubana, 19, has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years for the murders – one of the longest minimum terms ever recorded.
