HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE
Boyfriend of ‘Angel of London Bridge’ nurse who was killed as she ran to treat terror attack victims says he is ‘still head over heels’ in love with her
THE boyfriend of the "Angel of London Bridge" nurse who was killed as she ran to treat terror attack victims says he is "still head over heels" in love with her.
NHS nurse Kirsty Boden rushed from a meal with friends to see if she could help any of those injured, an inquest into the eight victims' deaths heard today.
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The 28-year-old Australian, working at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, was dubbed "the Angel of London" for her bravery and was awarded a posthumous medal for her bravery.
Today her boyfriend, James Hodder, told the hearing she "completely floored me with her smile and kindness" when they first met.
"I very quickly fell in love with her," he said. "I'm still head over heels in love with Kirsty.
"Her actions that night don't surprise anyone who knew her.
'To Kirsty, it would not have seemed brave, she loved people and lived her life helping others.
Her actions that night don't surprise anyone who knew her.'To Kirsty, it would not have seemed brave, she loved people and lived her life helping others.
Victim Kirsty Boden's boyfriend, James Hodder
"To Kirsty, her actions that night would just have been an extension of how she lived her life.
"We are so proud of her. Our wounds will never fully heal."
Over the next two months, grieving families will hear how the three women and five men died when a murderous trio drove a van through the packed tourist hotspot in London almost two years ago.
Another victim of the attack kissed her fiance and said she loved him before dying in his arms minutes later.
Christine Archibald's partner told the inquest they had been out for a celebration dinner on June 2, 3017, before she was killed by rampaging terrorists.
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'WE WOULD HAVE SPENT OUR LIVES TOGETHER'
Canadian Ms Archibald was visiting the capital for a short trip while her partner, Tyler Ferguson, was in the UK for work.
Mr Ferguson said: "We decided to walk over London Bridge. At one point Chrissy stopped me out of nowhere, gave me a passionate kiss and told me she loved me.
"Then the attack happened and Chrissy was killed.
"I love and still love Chrissy more than life itself. She was my angel. I can still feel her presence in the moon and know that she is always watching over me."
The 30-year-old's engagement ring was lost in the aftermath of the atrocity, but later recovered from the bridge. Mr Ferguson now wears it on a chain around his neck.
The couple, who were living together in The Hague, Holland, had been organising their wedding and were planning to get married in the autumn of 2018 in their native Canada.
They had picked a venue in Calgary and had even had invitations made.
Mr Ferguson said they were "very much looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together and starting a family".
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In a statement read at the Old Bailey, Tyler said: “Chrissy’s ring was initially lost but during the clean-up of the bridge it was found and returned to me.
“I still wear it on a gold chain around my neck.”
Chrissy, who was dragged under the wheels of the van, died two hours after the June 3 atrocity in 2017.
He added: “On the June 14 I left the UK on the same Air Canada flight that Chrissy’s body was on. Nothing has ever been the same since.”
Killed by curiosity — Alexandre Pigeard, 26
WAITER Alexandre, who worked at the Boro Bistro, was killed after going out to investigate the van crash.
A tribute video to the part-time DJ was played in court. He had been stabbed in the neck and chest.
Rock star dad Philippe told the hearing he was “inconsolable”.
'BARBARIANS'
Another victim was Mr Thomas, 45, and his girlfriend, Christine Delcros, who were struck by the van as they walked across the River Thames.
The Frenchman was flung into the water while Christine was left seriously injured on the bridge - the dad-of-two's body was found by police three days after the attack.
Xavier had been making a 17-second phone call to his 17-year-old son Nicolas in France when he was struck by the van, the court was told.
Accountant Xavier was knocked into the Thames by the vehicle, which struck him at 27mph.
No witness saw his fall although a police officer reported an object falling into the river.
His body was not discovered until three days later in East London, the inquest was told.
The killers, Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, were shot dead by cops, after ploughing a van through crowds and running through Borough Market with knives.
His family branded the terrorists as "barbarians who can in no way be described as human".
The horrifying assault, claimed by ISIS, at the heart of London lasted just over eight minutes.
In a moving statement today, Mr Thomas' family said: "He would have loved to see his children grow up, he would have spoiled them.
"We have been totally devastated by the way he was taken from us in this horrible and tragic way."
Christine used a walking stick when she appeared in court to read a tribute to Xavier in French.
Died partying — James McMullan, 32
JAMES, the only Brit victim, had been out celebrating winning funding for his e-learning business when he was attacked.
CCTV from a bus showed him walking near the scene after he was refused entry to a pub.
The British-Filipino, from Hackney, East London, was found collapsed by the Boro Bistro. It was not clear when or where he was stabbed.
Mum Mila wept as his death was discussed.
SKATEBOARD HERO
Ignacio Echeverria Miralles De Imperial, 39, was stabbed to death as he bravely fought the terrorists with his skateboard.
Dubbed 'The Skateboard Hero', he used the improvised weapon to save a French woman from being stabbed to death.
Several bystanders fled to safety as the Spaniard, from La Coruña, swung his board at one of the terrorists.
He was stabbed in the back and killed by the other two attackers.
Ignacio was cycling to Whitechapel, east London, with the board on his back when he saw the atrocity unfold.
He was awarded a posthumous George Medal for bravery by the Queen as well as a High Commendation by the Met, British Transport Police and City of London Police.
Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy praised his "heroic and exemplary act" and his sister Isabel said at the time: "My brother Ignacio tried to stop the terrorists and lost his life trying to save others."
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An inquiry into the deaths of the victims began today at the Old Bailey, due to be followed by a separate hearing for the inquests of their killers in front of a jury.
Those killed in the atrocity were Christine Archibald, 30, Mr Thomas, 45, Alexandre Pigeard, 26, Sara Zelenak, 21, Kirsty Boden, 28, Sebastien Belanger, 36, James McMullan, 32, and Ignacio Echeverria, 39.
Emotional tributes to 36-year-old Mr Belanger were read to the inquest - first by his brother Julien in French, before Gareth Patterson QC, who is representing six of the victims' families, read statements in English.
His mother Josiane Belanger said: "We miss him so much, his smile, his joie de vivre.
"I do not forgive what they did to him. They mutilated and killed him."
The Old Bailey heard how he was "full of mischief" as a child, and did not particularly like school.
He discovered his love of food when he started work as a butcher's apprentice at the age of 16, something that he found physically challenging due to his slight build.
From there he went on to work in a series of restaurants, including in Corsica for a number of years, and in 2009 decided to move to London to join friends.
Mr Belanger started work at the Coq D'Agent in the City and was promoted to the role of head chef.
Chief Coroner Mark Lucraft QC told the court that despite being confronted by three knife-wielding attackers, he had "bravely fought back" before he was killed by "quite horrific injuries".
Chef loved life — Sebastien Belanger, 36
FRENCH chef Sebastien was knifed to death after watching the Champions League final with friends in a Borough Market pub.
Mum Josiane and brother Julien Belanger said: “We miss him so much. His smile, his joie de vivre.
“I don’t forgive what they did to him, they mutilated and stabbed him.”
Sebastien, the second to be attacked, worked at the Coq d’Argent restaurant near London’s Bank.
'SHE WAS THE HAPPIEST SHE HAD BEEN'
And Australian au pair Sara Zelenak was on the "trip of a lifetime" when she was stabbed to death while on a night out with a friend, her family said.
Her mother, Julie Wallace, said: "Sarz was the happiest she had ever been: working, travelling, meeting new people, doing all the things a 21-year-old should do.
"That was until June 3 2017 when our lives changed forever. On that fatal night, every sliding door slid for Sara to be in harm's way.
"She was meant to be working and at the last minute she got the night off.
"Pri (her au pair friend) and Sarz were going to go to a rooftop bar and couldn't find it, then Soho, though decided Borough Market would do because it was close to the rugby where they were meeting up with some friends when it finished.
"At 10pm Sara's phone rang and her friend said 'I've finished at the rugby' and so she left her safe haven... and walked out into a terrorist attack and was stabbed to death."
Mrs Wallace said she and her husband have since dedicated their lives to setting up "Sarz Sanctuary" to help other families to cope with grief.
Opening the probe with a minute's silence, chief coroner Mr Lucraft QC said: "The lives of many people were torn apart by what took place in less than 10 minutes of high and terrible drama."
He told a packed court he hopes the inquest will answer the "obvious and understandable questions" of the relatives of those who died and give the bereaved families some comfort.
Chief coroner Mark Lucraft QC's opening remarks
"The lives of many people were torn apart by what took place in less than 10 minutes of high and terrible drama.
"I hope these inquests provide answers to the obvious and understandable questions that the families have.
"On Saturday 3 June 2017, a white Renault van containing three men was driven south across London Bridge.
"As the van drove across the bridge it repeatedly mounted the pavement and struck many people.
"Sebastien Belanger, Xavier Thomas and Christine Archibald were killed as a result. A number of others were seriously injured.
"The van then crashed into the railings outside the Barrowboy and Banker pub.
"The three attackers then left the van, each was armed with a large knife.
"It would appear the knives were 12 inches. They were tied to their wrists with tape.
"Each had items strapped to their bodies which looked like they were improvised explosive devices.
";They then indiscriminately stabbed people."
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, the head of UK counter-terrorism policing Neil Basu and the Commissioner of City of London Police Ian Dyson were in court today.
The attack, which also left 48 people injured, came just three months after 52-year-old Khalid Masood mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in a hired car before stabbing a police officer to death.
The inquest is expected to examine why there were still no barriers to protect pedestrians on London Bridge by June 3.
Families will also want answers to the question of how Butt was able to plan and carry out the attack while under investigation by security services.
Another issue likely to be raised by lawyers acting for the relatives of the victims is the lack of security checks required to hire rental vehicles after cars and lorries were used as weapons in Nice, Berlin and Westminster Bridge.
In the coming weeks, the court will hear from witnesses, the family and friends of the attackers, and a senior MI5 officer.
Other evidence is expected to include CCTV footage of the attacks and the terrorists' movements, body-worn video from police officers and footage from members of the public caught up in the carnage.
The court will not sit on the second anniversary of the atrocity next month.
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London Bridge terror attack hero, Geoff Ho describes the moment he confronted the attackers
Two of the three London Bridge terror attackers named as Khuram Shazad Butt and Rachid Redouane
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Crowds gather at Southwark Cathedral to commemorate the anniversary of the London Bridge terror attack
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