LEE RIGBY (ZUMAPRESS.com)
The family of the British soldier beheaded in broad daylight frantically tried to reach him after seeing the terror attack on TV.
The stepfather of Lee Rigby, the 25-year-old star in his battalion’s corps of drums, said the family tried to call their son when they heard about the attack near the London barracks, according to The Sun.
In an emotional interview today, Lee’s family described him as a “hero.”
Ian Rigby said he found out later than night that his stepson, who survived the war in Afghanistan, was the victim of the barbaric attack.
“Really as soon as it came on the news on television, obviously we didn’t know it was Lee but your heart skips a beat when you see something like that on TV, you know your son is in that area.”
“As soon as it was on the TV, we were attempting to get hold of Lee, obviously we couldn’t and it was the middle of the night probably when we got confirmation it was Lee.”
Speaking through sobs, Ian Rigby, 53, read out a family statement where he called the proud soldier’s life was “a precious gift.”
“What can we say about Lee, our hero, we are so so proud of Lee,” said in a statement.
The devestated stepdad said, “Lee had a fiery temper when he was younger, I used to sit on him to calm him down till he got too big at 15, then he used to sit on me.
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“Lee’s dream growing up was always to join the army which he succeeded in doing, he was dedicated and loved his job.”
“Lee adored and cared a lot for his family, he was very much a family man, looking out for his wife, young son Jack, younger sisters, whom in turn they looked up to him, he always had a banter with them but would never ever let any harm come to them.
“He was over the moon being a dad and uncle, he adored them all.
“Lee was a man who loved people. He had many friends growing up in Middleton and on army duties all over the world.
“He believed life was for living and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
“Courtney and Amy his younger sisters wrote this for Lee: ‘Rest in Peace Lee, we loved you so much, you didn’t deserve this, you fought for your country and did it well.
“You will always be our hero we are just upset you left us so early. Love you Lee, goodnight.’
“The last text he sent to his mom read, ’Goodnight mom, I hope you had a fantastic day today because you are the most fantastic and one in a million mom that anyone could ever wish for. Thank you for supporting me all these years, you’re not just my mom you’re my best friend. So goodnight, love you loads.”
Rigby’s estranged wife Rebecca call the war vet a “devoted father” and that she and her two-year-old son Jack would “miss him terribly.”
“I love Lee and always will. I am proud to be his wife and he was due to come up this weekend so we could continue our future together as a family.”
The sobbing wife said she didn’t expect something like Monday’s horrific attack to happen at home.
“You think they’re safe.”
Yesterday it was revealed that the knife-wielding Islamist who beheaded a British soldier on a London street had been a soccer-loving, churchgoing schoolboy before his descent into jihad.
Accused terrorist Michael Adebolajo — who appeared in a video after the attack warning, “You people will never be safe” — and his accomplice were known for years to British counterterrorism police and intelligence services, sources revealed yesterday.
Police would not say whether it appeared Rigby had been targeted specifically because of his military service. Although he was not in uniform at the time he was killed, he was said by witnesses to be wearing a T-shirt for a British veterans’ charity.