Pint-clutching man becomes symbol of London's defiance

The internet is reacting to the picture of a man carrying a pint of beer post-London attack in the middle of a mob

A man pictured calmly taking his pint of beer with him as other people fled past him during Saturday's deadly attack in London has been cast as an unlikely hero who encapsulates British humour and defiance.

Dressed in a red t-shirt and sauntering casually with a friend, the drinker stood out in Sky News footage of men and women running down Borough High Street, away from the London Bridge scene of the attack that left seven people dead and 48 injured.



The image spread like wildfire across Twitter and British newspapers said the man, whose identity is unknown, was a symbol of defiance.

"True symbol of the British spirit as man flees terrorist attack clutching his pint," said student Henry Slesser on Twitter.

True symbol of the British spirit as man flees terrorist attack clutching his pint. #LondonAttacks #LondonBridge https://t.co/K4IVG8CHPu

— Henry Slesser (@HenrySlesser) June 4, 2017

Others joked that it was only right that he should take his beer with him, given London's notoriously high prices.

"Evacuate? Well, OK. But this beer cost six pounds ($7.74) a pint. I'm taking it with me," said another Twitter user, Andrew Brooks.

https://twitter.com/taxbod/status/871255328809267201

Londoners take pride in, and sometimes joke about, showing fortitude during adversity.

Tourist shops are awash with memorabilia emblazoned with "Keep calm and carry on", a slogan drawn from a World War Two poster that became popular in the last 10 years.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said the vote would go ahead as planned on Thursday.

Residents of the northern English city Manchester also looked to their city's culture for solace after a suicide bombing at a pop concert killed 22 people and injured 116 nearly two weeks ago, Britain's deadliest attack in almost 12 years.



Andrew Brooks' tweet has stirred up quite a reaction on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/haggard_ca/status/871415669224615936

People fleeing #LondonBridge but the bloke on the right isn't spilling a drop. God Bless the Brits! pic.twitter.com/ceeaH0XxeX

— Howard Mannella (@hmannella) June 3, 2017

https://twitter.com/OwenJones101/status/871336319523450880

While some thought his look was incomplete:

https://twitter.com/strxer/status/871462320710467584

Others thought this was more than just need for beer:

In his defense, terror can cause a person to loose rational conscientious thinking. Ask him today if he was aware the mug was in his hand.

— Mathcastles (@mathcastlez) June 4, 2017

But overall, Twitter seemed to be really happy with him:

A man was seen fleeing the London Bridge attack with his pint. The epitome of "Keep Calm and Carry On" 🇬🇧 https://t.co/0Eu56QUCxs

— Hayley Jones (@hayleycjones) June 4, 2017

https://twitter.com/ImAdamHamilton/status/871308661041364992