Film / skateboarding
Remembering Ignacio Echeverria through film: The Skateboard Hero Who Fought a Terrorist
In June 2017, the terror attack on London Bridge led to eight people tragically losing their lives. One of these people was skateboarder, Ignacio Echeverria.
After finding himself in the middle of the attack, Ignacio didn’t run but instead pulled out his board and heroically swung it at the terrorists and saved the life of a woman being attacked.
Tim Crawley, a Bristol-based skater, tells the story and applauds the heroic actions of Ignacio – a man who has always been in the fight for justice. With the help of Ignacio’s close friends and family in Madrid and London, Tim documents Ignacio’s bravery through film and shares how Ignacio will forever be a role model to skaters and non-skaters alike.
is needed now More than ever
“That unconditional bond and shared enjoyment of skateboarding can really be felt in Ignacio’s film,” Tim told Bristol24/7.
“As skaters, we’re quite often the subject of negative press and attitudes from the general public – but this time we all felt a huge sense of pride amidst the devastating loss and sadness. It’s a powerful mix of emotion and was the driving force behind the film, which is evident when you watch it.”
The documentary can be watched on YouTube. Credit: Tim Crawley
Tim, who directed the film with VICE, produced and edited from his home in Bristol over lockdown. He perfectly captures the solidarity and tight-knit nature of the skating community – a reason why he has been at the heart of Bristol’s skate scene for the past 20 years.
“The skate community in Bristol and beyond means the world to me. Having just turned 40, I’ve been skateboarding for around 27 years and it’s brought so much to my life in terms of friends, experiences and travel opportunities,” said Tim,
Although it can be subject to negative press, the skateboarding scene in Bristol remains thriving. Tim has directed multiple documentaries based around skating, including a story of Paul Alexander, a Bristol-based skateboarder, who was on his way to fame when experiencing severe mental health issues.
“The film has all the local spots in it like College Green and the Lloyds Amphitheatre. Skateboarders from Bristol really did themselves proud as they were able to take a mature and honest look at mental health within skateboarding and a global discussion was started. ”
Watch the film on Ignacio Echeverria here:
Main photo: Tim Crawley
Read more: How DIY skateparks reassert ownership over the city’s abandoned spaces
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