Doctors and nurses from the St Thomas Hospital in London rushed from the building towards the scene where a terrorist attack had pedestrians hurt. Images from the scene depict the hospital staffers helping the injured even as the terror was still in the air.

A junior doctor who rushed to the scene, Colleen Anderson said that a woman was killed when the attacker, who was in a grey Hyundai i40 , drove the vehicle across the Westminster Bridge before crashing the car into the railing and running it straight through the gates of the Westminster Palace.

According to the doctor, she treated a police officer in his 30s who sustained head injury. The officer was taken to the King’s College Hospital. As she said to a UK newspaper, “I confirmed one fatality. A woman. She was under the wheel of a bus. She died. Confirmed her death at the scene.”

One of the first doctors to arrive at the scene after screams shattered the air was off-duty doctor, Dr Jeeves Wijesuriya. He came soon after a policeman was stabbed very close to the Westminster Palace.

“Home safe. Humbled by incredible efforts of paramedics, Met police & Helicopter emergency medical service. Thoughts with those in hospitals tonight receiving & giving care,” the doctor tweeted.

Medical professionals fought to save the life of not just the officer but also his attacker’s. They were both lying on the floor of the cobbled courtyard near the Parliament. The police officer was later wheeled away on a stretcher. His face was covered.

British Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood was also among the ones to rushed to the aid of the victims. He lost his brother to terror attacks during the Bali bombing. Images show Mr. Ellwood pumping the officer’s chest. His face and hands were smeared with blood.

The attacks had claimed the lives of at least five people, including a police officer.

Doctors praised for their efforts

In the wake of the attack, the prompt deeds of the emergency services have been praised on social media.

“So much respect for the doctors and paramedics who ran into danger to help,” says @soph_findlay said:

“Kudos to the doctors & nurses who ran to #Westminster bridge to save lives of those injured. Our emergency services esp Police did us proud,” said Parveen Agnihotri.

“#Westminster What an inspiration from our NHS nurses & doctors today..running frm St. Thomas towards the bridge to give aid to those in need,” said @Rodrigosenks.

The British Prime Minister, Theresa May too has been forthcoming with praises for the emergency services. She also lauded the police officers’ bravery, mentioning them as “who keep us and our democratic institutions safe.”

“Once again today, these exceptional men and women ran towards the danger, even as they encouraged others to move the other way. That they have lost one of their own in today’s attacks only makes their calmness and professionalism under pressure all the more remarkable, ” she said.

Image credits: mirror.co.uk

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