Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe ran the 2025 London Marathon in the honor of their daughters, who were killed in a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
The pair completed the race on Sunday, April 27, with London Express reporting that Aguiar became emotional as he fell to the ground upon finishing. Afterward, Aguiar was all smiles as he held up a medal and wore a T-shirt featuring a photograph of late daughter Alice Dasilva Aguiar. The T-shirt also included GoFundMe information to raise money for a playground at Churchtown Primary School in memory of Alice and fellow victim Bebe King.
Stancombe, for his part, gave a thumbs up after finishing the race. He also sported a white T-shirt that read, “Elsie’s Dad,” paying tribute to daughter Elsie Dot Stancombe. The clothing also featured the charity Elsie’s Story, which was created in October 2024 to honor Elsie.
In July 2024, Alice, Bebe and Elsie were fatally stabbed at a Swift-themed dance and yoga class held in Southport, England, roughly 20 miles north of Liverpool. Local police arrested Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, that same month and charged him with murder.
The teenager charged with murder following a stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the U.K. has been sentenced. Eighteen-year-old Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to 52 years in prison, according to the Associated Press. Judge Julian Goose had called the incident, per the outlet, “the most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious crime.” Goose further […]
Swift, for her part, sent her condolences via social media in July 2024. (The event was unaffiliated with the pop star, who brought her Eras Tour to London in June and August 2024.)
“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock,” she wrote via her Instagram Story at the time. “The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
Members of the British royal family also reacted to the attack, with Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton visiting first responders who assisted the victims in October 2024. King Charles III also held a private audience with survivors and their families at Clarence House. They also teamed up with the Blue Light Card Foundation to set up a National Police and Wellbeing Service, offering donations to those needing psychological and physical rehab following the incident.
In January, the Associated Press reported that Rudakubana was sentenced to 52 years in prison. Per the outlet, Judge Julian Goose called the incident “the most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious crime.” Goose explained that Rudakubana couldn’t be sentenced to life without parole since he was under 18 at the time of the crime.
