Ignacio Echeverría

Ignacio Echeverría Miralles de Imperial GM (25 May 1978 – 3 June 2017) was a Spanish lawyer and banker. He fought off one of the terrorists in the 2017 London Bridge attack, before being killed by other terrorists.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Echeverría and the second or maternal family name is Miralles de Imperial.
Ignacio Echeverría Miralles de Imperial

GM
Born(1978-05-25)25 May 1978
Ferrol, Galicia, Spain
Died3 June 2017(2017-06-03) (aged 39)
London, England, U.K.
NationalitySpanish
Alma materComplutense University
OccupationBanker
AwardsGrand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (Spain)
Grand Cross of the Order for Civil Recognition of the Victims of Terrorism (Spain)
Silver Medal of the Police Order of Merit (Spain)
Gold Medal of the Community of Madrid (Spain)

George Medal (UK)

Biography

Ignacio Echeverría, called Abo, was the third of five children. He was the son of Joaquín Echeverría Alonso,[1] an Asturian engineer, and Ana Miralles de Imperial Hornedo,[2] a lawyer. Even though he was born in the Hospital General of Ferrol, La Coruña (Spain),[3] he was entered in the Civil Register of As Pontes de García Rodríguez, a town situated in the northwest of the province. He lived there until the age of 9, when the family moved to Las Rozas de Madrid. Echeverría grew up in a Catholic home, and was a member of a local group of Catholic Action in Las Rozas. He was fluent in English, French and German, and graduated in law from two universities, the Complutense University and the Sorbonne.[4][5] He was also fond of skateboarding, surfing, golf and squash.[6]

After working in several banks and being unemployed, he decided to move to London, where he secured a position as a money laundering prevention analyst with HSBC.[7][3]

Attack and burial

At around 10pm on Saturday 3 June 2017,[5] Echeverría, carrying his skateboard on his back, was cycling with friends in London. Near Borough Market, they saw a man attacking a police officer lying on the ground. When the man left the body of the officer and began to assault a woman (a French citizen who survived the incident due to Echeverría's actions) Echeverría used his skateboard to strike the attacker, diverting his attention long enough that several people were moved to safety. He subsequently attacked a second terrorist who was also attacking a police officer. He was then stabbed twice in the back by two attackers, causing his death.[8][9]

After the attack, several of his relatives left messages on social networks asking for help to locate his body.[10] His sister and niece toured London hospitals looking for him without success. The Spanish Consulate and the Spanish Embassy provided help and support to his sister and family during the search process.[11] The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Alfonso Dastis, expressed his bewilderment at the disappearance of Echeverría.[12] His father reported that HSBC employed a former police private investigator to help find him.[13]

On Wednesday 7 June, British authorities confirmed to his family that Echeverría had been among the eight victims of the attack.[14] The family identified him the next day and began the process of repatriation.[15] On 10 June his body was transferred to Spain by military airplane and was received with honours by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and María Dolores de Cospedal, Minister of Defence, at Torrejón Air Base (Madrid). The body lay in repose in the cemetery of Las Rozas de Madrid, with the Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross which he had been posthumously awarded placed on the coffin.[16][17] On Sunday 11 June, a funeral mass ceremony was held in Corpus Christi Parish of Las Rozas by Archbishop of Madrid Carlos Osoro Sierra, who had previously officiated a mass to mark the arrival of the coffin in Spain as well as attending the burial.[18][19]

Reactions

The Town Council of Las Rozas de Madrid, where the Echeverría family lived, declared a two-day official mourning period and a rally in memory of Echeverría which was attended by more than 1,000 people, as well as naming the skate park where Echeverría used to practise after him.[8] The Town Council of As Pontes de García Rodríguez convened a demonstration of mourning.[9] The news of his death and the circumstances surrounding it saw significant coverage in both national and international press, with media dubbing him the Skateboard Hero.[20]

The Bar Association of Madrid expressed dismay for the murder of a former member and announcing its intention to participate in all tributes in his memory.[21] Spanish singer Joaquín Sabina dedicated a song to him in a concert that was held after the attack in Ubeda (province of Jaén) as well as mentioning him at a concert in London.[22] The spanish Skating Federation awarded him its order of merit and medal.[23] Senior members of the Catholic Church in Spain also praised his example and asked for members to pray for him, including Cardinal-Archbishop of Madrid, who conducted his funeral,[19] and Luis Ángel de las Heras CMF, the Bishop of Ferrol, his hometown.[24]

On 14 June, the Workers' Commissions Trade Union representatives in Endesa issued a statement lamented the murder of Echeverría and expressing their solidarity with his father, a retired worker of the company.[1] The City Council of Alicante agreed to give his name to the San Juan Beach skate park. Spanish boxer Kerman Lejarraga dedicated his victory in New York to Ignacio Echeverría. He said "this victory is especially dedicated to Ignacio Echeverría, who died a hero".[25]

During the Spanish state visit to the United Kingdom in July 2017, Felipe VI mentioned his act of heroism at the reception in the Spanish Embassy[26] as well as in his speeches to both houses of Parliament and at the state banquet in the presence of the Queen.[27] A tribute was held in Comillas (Cantabria), where Echeverría spent the summer with his family, on 10 August 2017. Dozens of people attended and a sports area with a skate park was dedicated to him.[28] During the military parade of the national day of Spain on 12 October 2017, devoted for the first time to victims of terrorism, Echeverría received a tribute along with the victims of the Barcelona attacks. His mother accompanied King Felipe during the floral offering with the ambassadors of the countries that had suffered casualties in these attacks and presidents of the Association of Victims of Terrorism and the Foundation of Victims of Terrorism.[29]

On 11 October 2018, Echeverría's parents, alongside Constable Charles Guenigault and Constable Wayne Marques, received the George Medal from the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Constable Leon McLeod was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal at the same investiture ceremony.[30][31] These four appointments were approved on 19 July 2018 for "confronting armed terrorists to protect others at London Bridge".[32]

Honours
Posthumous armorial achievement of Ignacio Echeverría embellished with his Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (Spain), Silver Medal of the Order of Police Merit (Spain) and George Medal (United Kingdom)

Spanish orders and medals

Foreign

Other distinctions
  • The Order of Merit and Medal, Spanish Royal Federation of Skating (9 June 2017)[23]
  • Gold Medal of Dignity and Justice Association, Madrid (21 June 2017)[39]
  • Gold Medal of Honour of the Chamber of Commerce of Madrid (19 July 2017)[40]
  • The Collective of Victims of Terrorism - COVITE International Award, San Sebastián (28 October 2017)[41]
  • The IMF International Business School Award for a Better World, Madrid (2 June 2018)[42]
  • The Police Public Bravery Awards, United Kingdom (30 October 2018)[43]
  • Honorific eponyms:

See also

References
  1. "Solidaridad con Joaquín Echeverría Alonso, padre de Ignacio Echeverría" [Solidarity with Joaquín Echeverría Alonso, father Ignacio Echeverría] (in Spanish). CC.OO. ENDESA. 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  2. "El héroe que se enfrentó al terror de Londres con un monopatín regresa a casa" [The hero who confronted the terror of London with a skateboard returns home] (in Spanish). Faro de Vigo. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  3. Ortiz, Ana María; Durán, Luis F. "Así era Ignacio Echeverría: 'el héroe del monopatín'" [Thus it was Ignacio Echeverría: 'the Skateboarding Hero'] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  4. "Ignacio Echeverría era de Acción Católica... y lo demostró con su acción ante los yihadistas [Ignacio Echeverría was member of Catholic Action... and showed it with its action against the jihadists]". Religionenlibertad.com (in Spanish). Religion en Libertad. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  5. Carretero, Nacho (12 June 2017). "El héroe que durante años luchó contra el terrorismo" [The hero who for years fought against terrorism] (in Spanish). elpais.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  6. Cedeira, Brais (14 October 2017). "Hablan los padres de Ignacio Echeverría: "El deber se impuso a su instinto de supervivencia"". El Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  7. Navalpotro, José María (2017). Tristeza y sano orgullo: Enríque Echeverría, el hermano del "heroe del monopatín", recuerda su coherencia de vida y su preocupación por los demás [Sadness and healthy pride: Enríque Echeverría, the brother of the "hero of skateboarding", recalls its coherence of life and concern for others]. Mundo Cristiano (Madrid) (688-689): PP. 60-62.
  8. "España homenajea al joven que dio su vida por defender a una mujer de los terroristas de Londres" [Spain pays tribute to the young man who gave his life defending a woman from the London terrorists] (in Spanish). infocatolica.com. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  9. "Ignacio Echeverría murió por una puñalada en la espalda" [Ignacio Echeverría was killed by a stab in the back] (in Spanish). www.publico.es. 10 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  10. "Buscan a un español desaparecido tras enfrentarse a un terrorista en Londres" [Loking for a missing Spanish man who disappeared after confronting a terrorist in London] (in Spanish). www.publico.es. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  11. "Reino Unido tardará '24 o 48 horas' en informar sobre el español desaparecido en el atentado de Londres" [United Kingdom will take '24 or 48 hours' to inform the Spanish disappeared in the attack in London] (in Spanish). www.publico.es. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  12. "Dastis expresa "perplejidad" porque Ignacio Echeverría siga sin ser localizado" [Dastis expressed "bewilderment" because Ignacio Echeverría still not found] (in Spanish). elpais.com. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  13. "El padre de Ignacio Echevarría: HSBC ha puesto a disposición de la familia un investigador" [The father of Ignacio Echevarría: HSBC has put at the disposal of the family a investigator] (in Spanish). La Región. 5 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  14. "Ignacio Echeverría es uno de los fallecidos en el atentado de Londres" [Ignacio Echeverría is one of those who died in the bombing of London] (in Spanish). www.elmundo.es. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  15. "Confirmada la muerte del español desaparecido en el atentado de Londres" [Confirmed the death of the Spanish disappeared in the attack in London] (in Spanish). www.publico.es. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  16. Martínez Crespo, Virginia (10 June 2017). "Llega a España el cuerpo de Ignacio Echeverría" [It comes to Spain of the body Ignacio Echeverría] (in Spanish). elpais.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  17. "Real Decreto 593/2017, de 9 de junio, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Civil, a título póstumo, a don Ignacio Echeverría Miralles de Imperial." [Royal Decree 593/2017, of 9 June, which posthumously granted the Grand Cross of the order of Civil merit to Mr Ignacio Echeverría Millares de Imperial] (in Spanish). Spanish Official Journal. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  18. "Centenares de familiares y amigos despiden a Ignacio Echeverría en Las Rozas" [Hundreds of relatives and friends say goodbye to Ignacio Echeverría in Las Rozas] (in Spanish). www.publico.es. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  19. "Ignacio Echeverría: en monopatín hacia el cielo" [Ignacio Echeverría: in skateboarding to Heaven] (in Spanish). www.alfayomega.es. 15 June 2017. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  20. "El héroe del monopatín se fue de España "porque no tenía trabajo"" [The Skateboarding Hero left Spain «because it didn't work»] (in Spanish). www.abc.es. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  21. "El Colegio expresa su consternación por el asesinato de Ignacio Echeverría" [The Association expressed dismay for the murder of Ignacio Echeverría] (in Spanish). Colegio de Abogados de Madrid/Bar Association of Madrid. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  22. "El gesto de Joaquín Sabina con Ignacio Echeverría, el 'héroe' de Londres" [The gesture of Sabina Joaquín with Ignacio Echeverría, the 'Hero' of London] (in Spanish). www.elpais.com. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  23. "La Federación de Patinaje concede la Orden de Mérito a Ignacio Echeverría" [The Skating Federation awarded the order of merit to Ignacio Echeverría] (in Spanish). www.marca.com. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  24. Bastante, Jesús (8 June 2017). "Osoro, a Ignacio Echeverría: Gracias por tu testimonio de amor y entrega frente a la barbarie" [Osoro to Ignacio Echeverría: Thank you for your testimony of love and surrender to barbarism] (in Spanish). periodistadigital.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  25. "Kerman Lejarraga dedica su victoria en Nueva York a Ignacio Echeverría" [Kerman Lejárraga dedicated his victory in New York to Ignacio Echeverría] (in Spanish). www.abc.es. 10 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  26. "El Rey, ante los españoles residentes en Reino Unido, confía en que el acuerdo del Brexit les dé "certidumbre"" [The King, to Spaniards living in the United Kingdom, relies on the agreement of the Brexit to give "certainty"] (in Spanish). www.cuatro.com. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  27. "El Rey rinde un sentido homenaje a Ignacio Echeverría, el héroe español fallecido en Londres: Su comportamiento fue ejemplar" [The King pays a heartfelt tribute to Ignacio Echeverría, the Spanish hero who died in London: their behaviour was exemplary] (in Spanish). tuotrodiario.hola.com. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  28. " Comillas homenajea a su héroe" [Comillas pays tribute to his hero] (in Spanish). El Diario Montañés. 11 August 2017. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  29. "Emotivo homenaje a los caídos en la Fiesta Nacional presidida por los Reyes" [Emotional tribute to the fallen at the national party chaired by the King and the Queen] (in Spanish). Telemadrid. 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  30. "Heroes of London Bridge terror attack who battled jihadis with skateboards, bare hands and having been stabbed are honoured by the Queen". Hot Lifestyle News. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  31. "London Bridge attack: Skateboard hero receives bravery award". BBC News. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  32. "No. 62357". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2018. p. 12840.
  33. "Real Decreto 324/2018, de 18 de mayo, por el que se concede, a título póstumo, la Gran Cruz de la Real Orden de Reconocimiento Civil a las Víctimas del Terrorismo a don Ignacio Echeverría Miralles de Imperial." [Royal Decree 324/2018, of 18 May, which granted the Grand Cross of the Royal Order for Civil Recognition of the Victims of Terrorism, posthumously, to Mr Ignacio Echeverría Millares de Imperial] (in Spanish). Spanish Official Journal. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  34. "La Policía concede a Ignacio Echeverría su Medalla de Plata a título póstumo" [Police grants posthumously its Silver Medal to Ignacio Echeverría] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 17 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  35. "Rollán:"El autogobierno de la Comunidad de Madrid es eficacia, solidaridad y lealtad a España"" [Rollán:"The Self-Government of the Community of Madrid is effectiveness, solidarity and loyalty to Spain"] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  36. "De la Uz entregó la Medalla de Honor de Las Rozas a Ignacio Echeverría" [De la Uz gave the Medal of Honor from Las Rozas to Ignacio Echeverría] (in Spanish). lavozdelaa6.es. 29 September 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  37. "La Policía de Londres concede su máxima distinción a Ignacio Echeverría por su heroísmo en el atentado de junio" [Police in London gives Ignacio Echeverría its highest distinction for his heroism in the attack of June] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 4 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  38. "Spanish 'skateboard hero' of London Bridge attack honoured with first ever triple police bravery award". www.ibtimes.co.uk. 8 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  39. "Aguirre reappears and warns that his resignation was not a recognition of guilt or a sentence to defendants of Lezo Case" [Police in London gives Ignacio Echeverría its highest distinction for his heroism in the attack of June] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  40. "La Cámara de Comercio de Madrid concede la Medalla de Honor a Ignacio Echeverría" [The Chamber of Commerce of Madrid awarded the Medal of Honor to Ignacio Echeverría] (PDF) (in Spanish). Cámara de Comercio de Madrid. 20 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  41. "Consuelo Ordóñez afirma que Ignacio Echeverría habría formado parte de resistencia a ETA" [Consuelo Ordóñez says that Ignacio Echeverría would have formed part of ETA resistance] (in Spanish). www.elmundo.es. 29 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  42. "Ignacio Echeverría, Deloitte, Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada y 'Aquí hay trabajo', Premios IMF 2018" [Ignacio Echeverría, Deloitte, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada and 'Here's work', IMF Awards 2018] (in Spanish). www.estrelladigital.es. 5 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  43. "Image of the Ignacio Echeverría's NPCC Award medal". www.twitter.com. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  44. "Artículos" [Articles] (in Spanish). I.E.S. El Burgo - Ignacio Echeverría. 3 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  45. "As Pontes dedica un parque a Ignacio Echeverría, el héroe del monopatín" [As Pontes dedicated a park to Ignacio Echeverría, the hero of skateboarding] (in Spanish). elpais.com. 4 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  46. "Albal inaugura su skatepark Ignacio Echeverría" [Albal inaugurates its skatepark Ignacio Echeverría] (in Spanish). Aquí en la Sierra. 18 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  47. "Alcorcón pondrá el nombre de Ignacio Echeverría a un auditorio municipal" [Alcorcón will put the name of Ignacio Echeverría to a municipal Auditorium] (in Spanish). La Vanguardia. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  48. "Homenaje a Ignacio Echeverría, el héroe de los atentados de Londres" [Tribute to Ignacio Echeverría, the hero of the London attacks] (in Spanish). Diario Información. 31 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  49. "La dedicatoria a Ignacio Echeverría del skatepark de Alpedrete levanta la polémica entre el equipo de Gobierno y el PP" [The dedication to Ignacio Echeverría skatepark of Alpedrete raises controversy between the Government team and the PP] (in Spanish). Aquí en la Sierra. 10 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  50. "El Skatepark Ignacio Echeverría abre sus puertas tras su remodelación integral" [New Skatepark Ignacio Echevarría opens its doors to the after comprehensive remodeling] (in Spanish). Ayuntamiento de Boadilla del Norte. 2 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  51. "Parque Skate Plaza Ignacio Echeverría" [Ignacio Echeverría Skatepark] (in Spanish). Guía de Parques Fuengirola. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  52. "El Skatepark de Fuenlabrada lleva ya el nombre de Ignacio Echeverría" [The Skatepark of Fuenlabrada already bears the name of Ignacio Echeverría] (in Spanish). cadenaser.com. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  53. "La pista de skate de Logroño se llamará Skatepark Ignacio Echeverría" [The SkatePark of Logroño will be called Skatepark Ignacio Echevarría] (in Spanish). noticiasdelarioja.com. 6 June 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  54. "El SkatePark de Navalcarnero rendirá homenaje al héroe Ignacio Echevarría" [The SkatePark of Navalcarnero will pay tribute to the hero Ignacio Echevarría] (in Spanish). Cs Navalcarnero. 24 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  55. "Las Rozas homenajea a Ignacio Echeverría" [Las Rozas pays homage to Ignacio Echeverría] (in Spanish). Madrid Press. 10 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
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