Lee Rigby’s mum pays tribute to ‘angels of Woolwich’ who tried to save her son, 10 years after his death

Lee Rigby’s mum has paid tribute to the three women who tried to help him in his last moments, on the 10th anniversary of his death. 

The late soldier’s mother has thanked the “angels of Woolwich” who tried to save her son on May 22, 2013 as he was murdered by two extremists on his way home to Woolwich Barracks. 

Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale ran the soldier down with a car, then used knives and a meat cleaver to stab him to death. The two men then dragged Mr Rigby’s body into the road.

​​Amanda Donnelly lay down beside Mr Rigby and wrapped her arms around him to bring him comfort, Tina Nimmo put herself in front of traffic to shield the soldier from cars and Ingrid Loyau-Kennett got off a bus and confronted the killers until police arrived.

Mrs Rigby told The Mirror: “The angels of Woolwich stepped up for my son in a way I will never be able to repay. 

“It should have been me that was there to protect him, to comfort him in his last moments, but I knew nothing about Lee’s murder until later.”

Paying tribute to former pub landlady Mrs Nimmo, who died on Friday following an illness, Lyn recalled her courage that day. 

Mrs Nimmo, from Woolwich, was one of the first on the scene when Mr Rigby was attacked.

Mrs Rigby said: “Tina was an exceptional woman, brave and fearless, and she became a good friend. 

“The horror of that day really affected Tina yet she always said she would do the same again in a flash. 

“My heart goes out to her family at her sad loss, and I hope she rests in eternal peace.”

Mrs Rigby told Good Morning Britain that her son would never be forgotten, and that she wanted to use his legacy to do more for bereaved families.

“I still speak to Lee, usually at the nighttime when I get time to myself, when everybody has gone to bed,” Mrs Rigby said. “I’ll sit and light a candle, and look at Lee’s picture and just talk away to him.

Sometimes I’ll laugh, sometimes I’ll cry and sometimes I’m angry. I just do it every single morning when I open my eyes.

“I have a picture of Lee in the bedroom and I’ll speak to him every morning. That gives me a focus to get up and to carry out what I’ve got to do that day.”

Pictured top: Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich 10 years ago today (Picture: H Szymanski/MoD)