swordpress

THE MUM of murdered soldier Lee Rigby says she wanted to die after he was killed by terrorists – and that only her family’s love stopped her ending her life.

Lee, 25, a machine gunner and drummer in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was killed by Islamist terrorists on May 22, 2013 as he walked home to his barracks in Woolwich, east London.

Lee Rigby was murdered by Islamist terrorists ten years agoPA:Press Association

Lee’s mum Lyn Rigby said only her family’s love stopped her ending her life after his murderPaul Tonge – The Sun

Killers Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale mowed down the soldier in a speeding car and hacked him to death with meat cleavers after picking him out at random.

The pair urged shocked onlookers to film them gloating over Lee’s body before police arrived at the scene.

Ten years on, Lee’s mum Lyn Rigby has spoken of her devastation after her son’s brutal murder.

She told the Mirror: “I remember just wanting to die too so I could be with Lee.

“It was only being a mum to four other children that stopped me taking my own life.

“My husband Ian and my four girls saved me from myself.

Most read in The Sun

CAVE TRAGEDY

Dad who got trapped inside indoor adventure centre cave dies from his injuries

clever cat

Britain’s Got Talent audience member shares secret of Noodle the cat’s audition

TV CHEF DEAD

Brit MasterChef Australia host dies aged 46 as Gordon Ramsay leads tributes

GET OUTTA HERE

Two campmates are faking it in I’m A Celeb, hints Shaun Ryder after eviction

always remembered

Olly Murs breaks down on stage over Caroline Flack ‘regret’

HORROR INJURY

Fulham’s Pereira stretchered off with suspected broken leg in worrying scenes

“As a family we pulled through together and to this day I have no idea how I am still standing.

“It’s nothing short of a miracle that the human heart can survive such sadness.”

Lee had survived frontline combat against the Taliban during a tour of Afghanistan several years before his murder by home-grown jihadists in London.

Clips of his savage execution are still circulating online, adding to his grieving family’s ordeal.

Both of Lee’s killers were given life sentences, with Adebolajo serving a whole-life tariff in prison.

Lyn said that the Lee remains part of the family a decade after his death.

It’s nothing short of a miracle that the human heart can survive such sadness

Lyn Rigby

She said: ““We will always have an empty chair at the heart of our family now – at birthdays, Christmas and Easter – even summer barbecues and simple get-togethers.

“Lee will always be missing but he is never forgotten.”

“When Sara got married a few years ago, she had a chair and a place setting for Lee at her top table with a candle burning next to a gorgeous photo of her brother.”

Lyn set up the Lee Rigby Foundation to help suffering veterans and bereaved military families.

The charity offers families caravan breaks on the Welsh coast to give peace and quiet.

Lee was father to young son Jack and was set to marry his beloved girlfriend before he was murdered.

Lyn said: “Lee was like a human tornado with so much wild energy.

“I’d give anything for him to burst through the door and rip through the stillness of my day.”

You’re Not Alone

EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:

CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
Movember, www.uk.movember.com
Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm

Neil Jones – News Group Newspapers LtdLyn laying a wreath after Lee Rigby’s name was inscribed on the Armed Forces Memorial[/caption]

Neil Jones – The SunThe Rigby family emerge from Lee’s funeral in 2013[/caption]

HandoutMichael Adebolajo (left) and Michael Adebowale (right) were given life sentences[/caption]