Dance Teacher Heidi Liddle’s Brave Testimony Reveals Lasting Impact of Southport Tragedy

A Teacher’s Heroic Actions

Heidi Liddle, a guest dance teacher who had recently returned from maternity leave, provided powerful testimony at the inquiry into the Southport stabbings on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. She described how a room that was “filled with joy and happiness” transformed “dramatically and devastatingly within seconds.”

Swift Response to Danger

The incident unfolded rapidly when Liddle witnessed a colleague being brutally attacked. In those crucial moments, she acted instinctively, focusing on getting the children to safety. “Everything happened so quickly,” she recalled, explaining how she rushed to usher as many children as possible away from danger, noting that some were running towards the stairwell while one girl headed toward the toilet.

Ongoing Trauma and Recovery

Despite her heroic actions, Liddle expressed frustration at being classified by police as “simply a witness” rather than a victim. She felt this designation diminished the significant mental trauma and suffering experienced by all involved, making her feel that her own experience was being treated as “immaterial, trivial or even worthless.”

Lasting Impact

In her testimony, Liddle revealed she continues to experience daily flashbacks and still “sees” the attacker at various points throughout the day. As she poignantly stated, “I’ve come to realise that this is just how my life is now.”

Looking Forward

While expressing a desire to support charities established in memory of the “beautiful” girls who lost their lives, Liddle is mindful of potentially triggering others’ trauma. The inquiry, which is expected to continue until November, aims to ensure that no one else will have to endure similar devastating experiences in the future.