A “hero” dad shielded his family from the Hainault sword-wielding killer when they broke into his home whilst he was sleeping.

Henry De Los Rios Polania, 35, an IT engineer from east London is currently recovering at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead after he sustained a deep wound to his hand during the attack on Tuesday morning.

His sister, Jessica De Los Rios, 31, said her brother had been left “traumatised” by the incident but described his behaviour as heroic.

“He’s very devastated to believe something like this could happen. To us, he’s our hero. He protected them – my niece and my sister-in-law,” she said.

“They were just literally sleeping, opened their eyes to see a man with a big machete sword.

“He felt helpless in the moment but to us, he is our hero. It could have been extremely worse.”

She said that he had lost a lot of blood and that his recovery process would be lengthy.

His sister also expressed concern that the attack would have enduring psychological effects on their family.

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“We just have faith, but what worries me the most is how traumatised they are,” she said. “They haven’t been able to sleep.

In an update on his Instagram story, the 35-year-old said: “I would like to start by thanking all the nurses, paramedics, and the doctors on the NHS for keeping me alive.

“I'm recovering. I have a long journey ahead but I'm very positive that this trauma will end soon.”

He has applauded the police for risking their lives, and also thanked friends and family and all those who made sure he did not “bleed out”.

The man behind the attack has been remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court and charged with the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin.

He is also charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, as well as an allegation of aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.

Anjorin, 14, died on Tuesday as he walked to school in a residential area near Hainault tube station.

Staff and pupils at Bancroft’s, an independent school, said they have been left in “profound shock and sorrow” at the death of one of their pupils.