Australian nurse ran towards London Bridge attacks in selfless bid to save people
The partner of Australian nurse Kirsty Boden, 28, who was killed as she ran towards the London Bridge terror attack in a selfless bid to save people, has told how he is still “in awe of her bravery”.
In an emotional tribute, James Hodder said he was “completely floored” by Ms Boden, who was from the small town of Loxton, in South Australia, when she moved to London in 2013.
“Despite me being a pasty, bumbling, British accountant, Kirsty (pictured) fell in love with me and our love never stopped growing from the first summer in 2013,” he said.
The couple moved to Hampstead, in north London, and Mr Hodder said: “We had a beautiful life there. I am still head over heels in love with Kirsty and I miss her so much.
“But I am so thankful for all the years we shared together and I will treasure those memories forever.”
At the time she was stabbed to death, Ms Boden was working as a senior staff nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in central London.
The inquest heard she was on a night out with friends at Boro Bistro on June 3 2017.
She heard the sound of the van crashing and her immediate response was to leave the table to help, the coroner said.
Mr Hodder said: “Her actions on that night didn’t surprise anyone who knew her. To Kirsty it would not have seemed brave.
“She loved people and loved her life helping others. To Kirsty, her actions that night would have been an extension of how she lived her life.
“We are so unspeakably proud of her and not a day goes by that we are not in awe of her bravery that night.”
Speaking on behalf of her family, Ms Boden’s father, Ken, said his daughter “meant the world to us”.
He said: “We miss Kirsty every second of the day. There is a hole in our hearts that will never heal.”
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2019, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Metropolitan Police / PA Wire.
