A heroic teacher remains "shaken" after he was forced to disarm a schoolgirl who has been accused of the stabbings at a school in Wales yesterday.
Darrel Campbell grabbed the teenager and held her in an arm lock after she allegedly knifed two fellow teachers and another pupil at Amman Vale School in Ammanford on Wednesday.
Mid and West Wales Senedd representative Cefin Campbell, who is also Darrel's brother, has now spoken out about how his sibling's selfless heroism helped stop further bloodshed.
He said: “He has been a teacher there for 40 years. He was the first at the scene. He had to deal with a very stressful, chaotic situation. He did what most people would do and tried to calm things and restrain people from making the situation worse. He has been shaken by the whole experience.
Liz Hopkin was seriously hurt in the attack (WALES NEWS SERVICE)
Fiona Elias was also slashed (WALES NEWS SERVICE)"Because he has been there for 40 years he has never, ever seen anything like this. Questions will have to be asked about security but our thoughts are with those who have been badly affecting There is a sense of disbelief but there is also a sense that this community will provide support. We are close-knit and resilient."
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Darrel will be going back to work as soon as the school reopens, his brother added. Cefin said: “The school is closed today so he’s off but he has every intention of going back whenever the school reopens. He wants to be there, with the other staff members, to support each other and to support the pupils that are under their care.
“He’s taken that role very seriously throughout his life and he will go back to make sure that the pupils are in a good place. He retired officially last year, but he has been re-employed on a part-time basis. I think it’s three days a week he’s working now but more on the pastoral care element of the school life.”
Parents and children outside the school (John Myers)He added that his brother doesn't think he is a hero. “He’s embarrassed by all the attention that he’s had, he certainly doesn’t consider himself a hero in any way," his brother added. “He just told me he just did what most people would have done – he acted instinctively, he saw the danger and took action. He really wants to play down anything more than just being a normal citizen, albeit a teacher in a school facing a very challenging situation.”
Year Seven head Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin, a special needs teacher, sustained knife wounds in the attack. Another schoolgirl was also stabbed and all three were taken to hospital. Their current conditions are not thought to be life-threatening.
Mrs Hopkin was stabbed a total of four times and is "quite seriously hurt", but thankfully she's been discharged from hospital, according to her husband John.
Shortly after midday today, Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed all three had left hospital. Detectives and forensic officers were still at the school earlier as the investigation continued. Carmarthenshire Superintendent Ross Evans said: “As can be expected with an incident as serious as this, there will continue to be a police presence at the school throughout the day today. Officers at the scene will be looking for evidence to assist the investigation, while other specialist teams will analyse any information submitted through our dedicated webpage.
“We understand the level of concern in the community as people try to process the incident. We urge anyone affected by yesterday’s events to seek support, and not to share any videos, photos or information that might cause further distress to pupils or parents at the school. We continue to work with Carmarthenshire County Council and other agencies as they provide support to those affected by yesterday’s events.”
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