‘Hero’ stabbed in Hainault speaks for first time since sword attack as he thanks people who saved his life

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

A “hero” injured in the sword attack in east London has spoken for the first time since the incident as he recovers in hospital, thanking those who saved his own life.

Henry De Los Rios Polania, 35, an IT engineer from Hainault, is currently in hospital after being stabbed in Hainault on Tuesday morning.

Mr De Los Rios Polania was described by his sister, Jessica De Los Rios, 31, as a “hero” for protecting his family from the assailant.

He has since shared a photo to social media from his hospital bed, with a message thanking those who saved his life.

“I would like to start by thanking all the nurses, paramedics, and the doctors on the NHS for keeping me alive,” he said in a post to Instagram Stories, also sending gratitude to the police “for risking their lives”.

He also thanked “friends and family” and all those who made sure he did not “bleed out”.

Mr De Los Rios Polania added: “I’m recovering. I have a long journey ahead but I’m very positive that this trauma will end soon.”

Marcus Arduini Monzo, 36, of Newham, east London, has appeared in court accused of murdering 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin as he was walking to school on Tuesday, and injuring four other people.

Ms De Los Rios previously said her brother was recovering in hospital after sustaining a deep wound to his hand.

“It’s a very long process to get his hand recovered, due to this wound,” she said, adding: “He’s awake, he’s in hospital,” but “he lost a lot of blood” and “it’s going to be a really long, traumatising recovery for him.”

“He’s very devastated to believe something like this could happen,” she said, adding: “To us, he’s our hero. He protected them – my niece and my sister-in-law.

“They were just literally sleeping, opened their eyes to see a man with a big machete sword.

“He felt helpless in the moment but to us he is our hero. It could have been extremely worse.”