Emily Anderson & Tom Oakley reported from Nottingham for BBC News.
The morning of June 13, 2023, started as a regular day for Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller until a tragic turn of events altered their lives forever. Valdo Calocane, after fatally stabbing Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and caretaker Ian Coates, struck Wayne, Sharon, and Marcin Gawronski with a van in Nottingham city centre, leaving them seriously injured.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Sharon and Wayne recounted the harrowing events of that day and shared the survivor’s guilt they have been living with since. Sharon, a mother-of-one and devoted partner to Martin, suffered life-changing injuries including broken bones and a lacerated spleen. Despite her physical and psychological trauma, she remains hopeful about her recovery but feels safest within the confines of her home.
Wayne, on his way to work as a forklift driver, was struck by Calocane’s van, resulting in complex brain injuries that have left him struggling to remember his life prior to the attack. His partner, Tracey, has been his primary caregiver as he navigates re-learning basic skills and coping with chronic pain. Both survivors expressed deep remorse over the lives lost in the attacks and hope for meaningful changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, received a hospital order after admitting to manslaughter and attempted murder charges. The case prompted reviews, including a mental health homicide review, and led to discussions about a judge-led public inquiry. Sharon, Wayne, and the families of the deceased victims are actively engaged in the inquiry, seeking answers and advocating for survivors to remain central in the process
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