THE HERO teacher who disarmed a 14-year-old schoolgirl after a bloody rampage has been left “shaken”, his brother revealed.
Former rugby player Darrel Campbell grabbed the teenage girl and put her in an arm lock after two teachers and a pupil were stabbed in the frenzy at Amman Vale School in Ammanford, Wales, on Wednesday.
FacebookFormer rugby player Darrel Campbell disarmed a teenager with a knife at the school on Wednesday[/caption]
FacebookFiona Elias was one of the teachers stabbed in the frenzy[/caption]
WNSLiz Hopkin works as a special needs teacher at the school[/caption]
@NewyddionS4CDozens of emergency service vehicles, including helicopters, landed at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman on Wednesday following the horror[/caption]
Darrel’s brother Cefin Campbell, a Senedd member for Mid and West Wales, told how his heroic actions prevented further carnage.
He said: “He has been a teacher there for 40 years.
“He was the first at the scene.
“He had to deal with a very stressful, chaotic situation.
“He did what most people would do and tried to calm things and restrain people from making the situation worse.
“He has been shaken by the whole experience.
“Because he has been there for 40 years he has never, ever seen anything like this.
“Questions will have to be asked about security but our thoughts are with those who have been badly affect
“There is a sense of disbelief but there is also a sense that this community will provide support. We are close knit and resilient.”
Two teachers, Head of Year Seven Fiona Elias and special needs teacher Liz Hopkins, were slashed in the attack, along with another schoolgirl and all were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Mrs Hopkin, 53, who works with special needs students, was stabbed four times.
She is “quite seriously hurt” but has since been discharged from hospital, her husband John said.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed shortly after midday on Thursday the child victim, as well as the two teachers, have been discharged from hospital.
The attacks happened around 11.15am outside the canteen of the 1,500 pupil school in rural Wales.
‘CODE RED’
A “code red” alert was sounded over the school’s tannoy and children fled into classrooms and cowered under tables as police and ambulances rushed to the campus.
Hundreds of parents gathered outside the school gates while the children were kept on lockdown for around four hours.
The headteacher has praised staff and pupils for a “calm and mature” response after a 14-year-old girl “went mad” with a knife in the playground.
On the school’s website headteacher James Durbridge said: “Today has been a very difficult day.
“It goes without saying that my thoughts are with the three individuals and their families, who have been affected by today’s incident.
“We are proud to have witnessed pupils embodying the school’s core values while supporting their peers and staff.
“I wish to commend all staff and pupils for their calm and mature response during today’s lockdown.”
ATTEMPTED MURDER ARREST
Mr Durbridge said the school’s pupils could get “wellbeing support” if they were affected by what they saw in the playground.
A schoolgirl witness said: “Everyone was running and there were screams that the girl was going mad with a knife.”
The playground has been designated a crime scene and a path between the old and new school buildings has been cordoned off while forensic officers examine the scene.
Dyfed-Powys police said a 15-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The school remains closed today while forensic investigations continue.
Media WalesDozens of emergency service vehicles raced to the scene following the horror[/caption]
Media WalesThe horror unfolded at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman on Wednesday[/caption]
Robert MelenA schoolgirl witness said: ‘Everyone was running and there were screams that the girl was going mad with a knife’[/caption]
media WalesThe school remains closed today while forensic investigations continue[/caption]
PAOn the school’s website headteacher James Durbridge said: ‘Today [Wednesday] has been a very difficult day’[/caption]
WNSTwo teachers and a female pupil were stabbed at a secondary school in Wales[/caption]