A 24-year-old Catholic pilgrim on a tour of France’s cathedrals has been hailed as a national hero after using his rucksack to take on a Syrian knifeman.

The frenzied stabbing in a playground in Annecy left four small children, including a three-year-old British girl, fighting for their lives, along with two adults.

On Friday, reports said that the British girl, whose first name is Ettie, was no longer in a critical condition. A 22-month Dutch boy was also reportedly no longer in a life-threatening condition. Two French cousins aged two and three were also said to be stable.

The bearded Frenchman known only as “Henri” – a philosophy graduate with a masters in management – believed it was “no accident” that he happened to be in the park when the horrifying attack took place on Thursday morning by Lake Annecy.

[What a wonderful young man. God bless him and his huge, brave heart. ~ Beege]