The London Bridge terror attack victim known as the “skateboard hero” was honoured again Wednesday by the Spanish government for his bravery.
Ignacio Echeverria, who died protecting a woman from the attackers with a skateboard, was given one of Spain’s highest awards on June 9 for his actions: the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit.
Alongside the terror organisation ETA’s latest victim, French policeman Jean Serge Nerin, Echeverria has now also received a posthumous gold medal from the association Dignity and Justice.
Echeverria was one of eight people who died during the attack. Guillermo Sanchez, who was with Echeverria during his final moments, said that Echeverria attempted to defend a woman who was being assaulted, according to the Guardian.
Wielding his skateboard, Echeverria battled the attackers. Within what Sanchez called “microseconds,” Echeverria fell to the ground and didn’t get back up, according to the Guardian.
Spain’s Minister of the Interior, Juan Ignacio Zoido, attended Echeverria’s most recent award ceremony. Zoido said that Echeverria’s “heroism, courage and dedication” affected Spain and Britain alike.
One of his friends told the Spanish newspaper La Razon that Echeverria stood up for those in need. His sister reflected on these morals in a social media post.
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