Wimbledon Man Honoured for Confronting Train Attacker
A 61-year-old man from Wimbledon has been formally recognised for his immense bravery after confronting a knifeman during a horrific attack on a train in Cambridgeshire. Stephen Crean was presented with the Merton Heroes Award by the borough's mayor at a council meeting on the evening of Thursday, November 20.
The Huntingdon Train Attack: A Story of Courage
The incident unfolded on November 1 as Mr Crean was returning from a Nottingham Forest football match against Manchester United. Chaos erupted when a man armed with a knife began attacking passengers. While others fled in terror, Crean stood his ground, armed with nothing but his fists.
He later recounted to the Telegraph how the assailant confronted him, demanding, "do you want to die?" As families and other passengers locked themselves in the buffet car and toilets for safety, Crean made the conscious decision to act.
"All of a sudden, this knife comes out, and I went straight for him," he recalled. "I tried to punch him. I was trying to hold his arm, but he caught me on the top of the head." During the struggle, Crean was stabbed six times. Despite his injuries, he managed to lock himself in a train bathroom until armed police could arrive and apprehend the suspect.
Aftermath and Recognition
The attack left a total of ten people with stab wounds. Among the injured were LNER crew member Samir Zitouni, 48, who was initially in a life-threatening condition, and Scunthorpe United defender Jonathan Gjoshe, 22.
Anthony Williams, a 32-year-old from Peterborough, has been charged with ten counts of attempted murder in connection with the Huntingdon attack. He also faces additional charges, including three further counts of attempted murder for separate incidents in Peterborough and London.
Tragically, Mr Crean has been informed that he will never regain full use of his left hand as a result of the injuries he sustained. Reflecting on his motives that day, he stated simply, "My motive was to protect people." He admitted to being scared, but said the fear subsided, leaving only the imperative to act. His selfless actions have now been rightfully honoured, cementing his status as a true local hero.
