Shocking News : Southport stabbing: Teacher who shielded kids at Taylor Swift party readmitted to hospital…

Loved ones of a yoga instructor who ran the Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport where a knifeman intruded and stabbed three little girls to death have issued a devastating update, weeks after the attack.

Leanne Lucas, 35, was targeted in the horror incident on July 29, leaving her in a critical condition in hospital where she underwent life-saving surgery.

The former primary school teacher had suffered serious stab injuries as the attacker entered the community centre on Hart Street through a door that was propped open due to the heat.

Three young girls, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9 and Bebe King, 6, tragically succumbed to their injuries and died following the attack.

Earlier this month, friends of Leanne revealed she had been released from hospital but faced a lengthy recovery, warning she was “not out of the woods yet”. But in a devastating new update, they shared that the 35-year-old is now back in hospital.

Posting to a GoFundMe page set up to support the yoga instructor on her journey towards recovery, a friend wrote: “Unfortunately this week Leanne was readmitted to hospital due struggling with her breathing. She is waiting for an operation for another drain on her lung due to infection.

“Leanne had barely begun her road to recovery. Please keep her in your thoughts and continue supporting her as you have been by sharing the page & donating anything you can. Thank you all from the Lucas family & friends.”

It comes after reports that Leanne had “bravely tried to protect” the children who were targeted by the attacker.

She reportedly planned the two-hour dance and yoga session to coincide with the school holidays, and taught the class alongside Heidi Barlow. Heidi was also injured in the attack, but not as seriously as Ms Lucas, reports suggest.

“She showed incredible bravery by ushering many children out of the building to safety and even locked children in the toilet to keep them safe.

Although she may not agree, she is a hero! I know her thoughts are constantly with all the children and families that have been affected.

“Although she was physically unhurt, the emotional and mental distress of this day will never disappear. Because of this, support is needed so she can take the time she needs to heal without the added pressures of financial burdens, including that of specialist support to aid her recovery, and help provide for her young family.”