Man repeatedly stabbed while saving hundreds from being killed by terrorist wins Mirror Pride of Britain Award

Bleeding from three stab wounds inflicted by a murderous terrorist, Andrew Franks’ first thought was not of himself. Instead, despite injuries so serious he nearly died three times, he raced to protect the hundreds of worshippers in the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue from further harm on Yom Kippur. Speaking for the first time on the anniversary of the attack, in which Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed, Andrew says he doesn’t know how he managed it. He recalls: “He stabbed me three times, yelling that he was going to kill me. I shouted, ‘lock the doors’ and quickly ran inside. Everyone barricaded the doors while my 80-year-old dad held me as I was bleeding from my neck. I thought I was going to die.” The 53-year-old chef, from Bury, Greater Manchester, will pick up a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award, in partnership with P&O Cruises, at our star-studded gala, which honours the nation’s unsung heroes. He will be presented with the award for Outstanding Bravery in honour of his courage in confronting Jihad Al-Shamie, who left him with life-changing injuries to his head, neck, spine and face. Andrew, who had been volunteer- ing as a security guard at his family synagogue for about a year, was called in to cover at the last minute on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. He says: “When I arrived in the morning I noticed a guy standing on his own outside the shops. It was odd because he was taking photos of the synagogue. I had a strange feeling something was going to happen. “I was keeping an eye on him. Something wasn’t quite right. A few minutes later, the guy came over and asked the other security guards if he could park his car in the synagogue. He was told: ‘Sorry, you can’t park here, please can you go.’ Then they said he started shouting about Jews and stumbled off. I told the security guards to dial 999.” A few minutes later, at around 9.30am, there was a loud bang as the attacker rammed his car into the gate and Andrew rushed to help. Andrew says: “He was shouting and I didn’t realise at this point that he’d already killed someone and had a knife on him. I went to grab him and thought he stabbed me once, although I found out it was three times. It felt like my ear was hanging off. He was wearing what looked like a suicide belt, but it turned out to be false. He shouted ‘I’m going to f***ing kill you, you Jewish…’. Then I managed to trip him up as he was running towards the synagogue and trying to get inside. Then I got up, I still don’t know how, and shouted ‘lock the doors!’” Andrew was chased by the knifeman and attacked again, but he escaped and was let into the synagogue by one of the congregation. His heroic intervention delayed the attacker long enough for hundreds of people inside the building, which has a capacity of 850, to barricade the doors. Al-Shamie, 35, pounded on the windows and smashed pots against the doors trying to get in, but he was shot dead by firearms officers who had raced to the scene. Sadly, a stray round passed through the doors and killed Adrian, an old school friend of Andrew, as well as injuring Yoni Finlay, who was bravely hanging on to the door. Melvin had been fatally stabbed outside the gates, while security guard Bernard Agyemang was injured after being struck by the car. Inside the synagogue, Andrew’s father Ellis Franks held his son’s wounds until medics arrived. Andrew, who has one teenage daughter Tamara, recalls: “I was in and out of consciousness. I kept saying: ‘Dad, I’m going to die, I’m going to die, I can’t leave Tamara.’ “He kept telling me: ‘Everything will be fine, just take a deep breath.’ I could hear the man banging on the doors trying to get in. It was really scary. After that, I heard the gunshots. I tried to stand up but I collapsed. Then it was all over and he was dead. There were bomb experts because he had a vest on and they didn’t know if it was a real suicide vest. I had a blood transfusion on the street before I was taken to hospital.” Ellis, now 81, from Salford, Greater Manchester, says: “I was already in the synagogue when someone called me to say Andrew was injured. Blood was pouring and pouring out, it was a flood. I got some tissues and I pressed against his ear. I didn’t know he’d been stabbed in the neck. “I held it there until the bleeding slowed, then he started going in and out of consciousness. Later, the consultant said I’d saved his life. The attacker was trying to get in. I can still picture his face pressing up against the windows. He was screaming about killing the Jews. “Andrew kept saying ‘I’m going to die’. I was really calm at that point, but afterwards I started shaking. As we left the synagogue afterwards we could see the attacker lying dead on the floor and poor Melvin. At the hospital, Andrew was crying to Tamara, saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’. We were told that Andrew nearly died three times as he lost so much blood. We are both seeing a counsellor, it’s been awful. “I just get upset when I see Andrew because he’s not going to recover 100%. It’s heartbreaking. When we were at synagogue for Yom Kippur this year, Andrew was called up to receive a blessing during the service and I cried.” Andrew, whose wife Rama died last March after battling cancer for 15 years, has been part of the synagogue community his whole life, celebrating his wedding and Bar Mitzvah there. He has not yet been able to return to work for the NHS Greater Manchester Mental Health Unit and is still receiving treatment for his injuries. Andrew says: “When I arrived at the hospital, the surgeon took one look at me and said: ‘I’m going to take you to theatre right now.’ I said to him: ‘Please save me. I have a daughter.’” The attacker had cut through Andrew’s facial and eye nerves, leaving him with difficulty eating. He also had a skull and spinal fracture. Andrew adds: “I was in theatre for nine-and-a-half hours and I was in hospital for a fortnight. I was told I nearly died three times on the operating table. I’m still having nightmares and I’m seeing a trauma psychologist. My eyesight is OK, but my eye will not shut properly. “I’ve seen a stroke team because my injuries are a bit like what happens to stroke victims. They are helping me learn how to eat a bit better. I drool occasionally when I eat – I feel like a two-year-old and I’m very self-conscious. I hope it will improve but there’s no guarantee.” Inquests were opened after the atrocity, but the Chief Coroner for England and Wales, Judge Alexia Durran, has recommended that they are converted into a public inquiry because there is classified MI5 intelligence to review. Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Constable for Greater Manchester Police, says: “Andrew Franks was very bravely seeking to fend off the attacker and prevent him from entering the synagogue and committing further acts of terrorism. “Thank goodness he was there because despite the fact that he sustained those awful injuries, it was his actions that undoubtedly prevented further loss of life. He confronted him, grappled with him, tripped him up and was shouting at people to lock the doors. Despite his injuries, he continued in seeking to protect those inside. “I have no doubt that had this radicalised terrorist got into that synagogue, he would have committed mass murder. There is absolutely no question that the motive of the attacker was purely to attack these people simply because they were Jewish.” Andrew’s sister Joanne Gordon, 56, an animal talent booker from Altrincham, Cheshire, says: “I couldn’t be prouder of my little brother Andrew. When it mattered most, he showed incredible courage, putting himself in danger to protect others. He stepped forward when others needed him.” Andrew’s daughter Tamara adds: “I was so scared and just wanted to know my dad was safe. He put himself at risk to help save others and I couldn’t be prouder.” Sara Stanger, Andrew’s solicitor from JMW, adds: “This award is not only for him, but the families who lost loved ones and the Jewish community in Manchester and beyond.” *Don’t miss The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards coming soon to ITV1 and ITVX.