LIFE ON THE LINE
London Bridge terror attack hero cop shows off scars after being knifed five times as he shielded public from jihadis
A HERO cop who protected the public from jihadis during the London Bridge terror attack has shown off his scars after getting knifed five times.
Charlie Guenigault was stabbed three times in the head and twice in the back when put his life on the line on June 3, 2017.
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He reveals on tonight’s episode of E4's Tattoo Fixers Extreme how he and a colleague went for a drink after a difficult shift when they came across the carnage.
Mr Guenigault said: “It quickly became clear to me that something very bad was happening - this was terrorists.
“They’d already crashed their car up the road and had already started to stab and kill people.
“I did the best I could to defend people and then they started to stab me, I fell back, landed on the ground and was stabbed five times.
“I was expecting a final stab wound either in my head or chest, I closed my eyes and waited for it but fortunately it didn’t come.”
Three terrorists drove a van into pedestrians on the bridge before going into Borough Market.
Eight people were killed and further 48 were wounded, some were left with life-changing injuries.
'IT WAS LIFE CHANGING'
Mr Guenigault said he wanted to get a tattoo to represent how he is continuing to live after coming close to death.
He said: “I’ve come here today to get my first tattoo. It’s very important to me because it’s quite a life changing experience I had.
“I want this tattoo to represent what I’ve been through and how I’ve got over it.
“The doctor said if I'd been there for another five minutes the chances of me surviving was pretty much zero.”
While speaking with tattooists Sketch and Pash, and receptionist Paisley he said he wanted something a part from scars on his body.
He said: “I’ve been told I saved a lot of people’s lives and for me personally, I’m just glad I’m still here.
“I want to get a tattoo because the scars on my body are from that night, from the stab wounds, from the doctor’s surgery.
“I want something on my body that’s mine and that I choose to be here. I want it to be a symbol of me continuing to get through the rest of my life.”
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'COURAGE AND STRENGTH'
Mr Guenigault needed multiple surgeries that left him in the hospital for the entire summer.
He said: “My initial surgeries included many stitches in my head, staples in my back and I had an operation to remove my spleen.
“There was a hole in my stomach and diaphragm which needed fixing as well.”
The hero cop said he wanted a tattoo of a centaur – a mythical creature that is half man and half horse – on his lower left arm.
Pash said he hoped the tattoo was a reminder of his “courage and strength”, which Mr Guenigault dubbed “pretty special” when he saw it.
While getting tattooed says he doesn’t regret getting involved and mentioned he was honoured at Buckingham Palace for his role in protecting the public.
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The policeman adds: “I love it. It’s a sign of my recovery and me getting through everything that happened to me recently. It’s just that triumph.
“I guess it will be a reminder of what’s happened but look at me now and how far I’ve got from that.
“If you can get through that you can get through anything really.”
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