This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48281463

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
London Bridge attack inquest: PC guarded group with baton London Bridge attack inquest: Medics 'did not know where victims were'
(about 2 hours later)
A police officer said she waited for back-up for what "felt like forever" during the London Bridge attack. Medics did not know where three victims of the London Bridge attack were as they lay dying, an inquest heard.
PC Mia Kerr told an inquest she drew her baton to guard members of the public as they tried to save victim Sebastien Belanger after he was stabbed on 3 June 2017. Andrew Beasley coordinated the medical response to the attack on 3 June 2017.
The court heard she repeatedly called the police control room to ask for help from paramedics, but none came. He told an inquest he did not know Sebastien Belanger, James McMullan and Alexandre Pigeard were mortally wounded in a courtyard near Borough Market.
Mr Belanger, 36, was one of eight people killed in the attack. The court also heard a police officer had repeatedly asked for paramedics to be sent to help Mr Belanger, but none came.
The chef, originally from Angers, western France, had been drinking at the Boro Bistro when he was stabbed in the stomach. Mr Beasley told the Old Bailey he was never made aware of police efforts to get medical support to the area - and that he still does not know where the courtyard is.
The inquest heard the scene of the attack was deemed a "hot zone" under London Ambulance Service (LAS) protocol, which prevents paramedics from entering for their own safety.
Mr Belanger, Mr McMullan and Mr Pigeard were eventually brought to ambulances at a safe meeting point, but were already dead.
Earlier PC Mia Kerr told the inquest "time stood still" when she drew her baton to guard members of the public as they tried to save Mr Belanger.
The 36-year-old chef, originally from Angers, western France, had been drinking at the Boro Bistro when he was stabbed in the stomach.
He was one of eight people killed in the attack.
PC Kerr told the Old Bailey she had been a police officer for about a year on the night of the attacks.PC Kerr told the Old Bailey she had been a police officer for about a year on the night of the attacks.
She said she came across members of the public giving first aid to Mr Belanger at 22:12.She said she came across members of the public giving first aid to Mr Belanger at 22:12.
'A lot of pressure''A lot of pressure'
He had collapsed in Green Dragon Court, below where the attackers' van had crashed into railings on London Bridge.He had collapsed in Green Dragon Court, below where the attackers' van had crashed into railings on London Bridge.
After deciding that the group "looked like they knew what they were doing", PC Kerr drew her baton in case the attackers returned to the area.After deciding that the group "looked like they knew what they were doing", PC Kerr drew her baton in case the attackers returned to the area.
"I was the only officer down there for a little while which felt like forever," she said."I was the only officer down there for a little while which felt like forever," she said.
"I'd only had about a year of service so it was a lot of pressure.""I'd only had about a year of service so it was a lot of pressure."
Another police officer and a police medic arrived over the next few minutes, the court heard.Another police officer and a police medic arrived over the next few minutes, the court heard.
The court heard that no members of the London Ambulance Service came to the scene to help Mr Belanger, despite PC Kerr calling the Metropolitan Police control room to request paramedics. The court heard that no members of the LAS came to the scene to help Mr Belanger, despite PC Kerr calling the Metropolitan Police control room to request paramedics.
The inquest previously heard that the area had been deemed too dangerous for paramedics to attend.The inquest previously heard that the area had been deemed too dangerous for paramedics to attend.
Two members of the public and the officers spent more than half an hour performing CPR on Mr Belanger before he was eventually moved up steps to a waiting ambulance at about 22:45, the court heard.Two members of the public and the officers spent more than half an hour performing CPR on Mr Belanger before he was eventually moved up steps to a waiting ambulance at about 22:45, the court heard.
'I just wanted some help''I just wanted some help'
BBC correspondent Richard Lister, at the inquestBBC correspondent Richard Lister, at the inquest
PC Kerr was composed as she told the inquest about how she, another officer and two members of the public fought to revive Sebastien Belanger.PC Kerr was composed as she told the inquest about how she, another officer and two members of the public fought to revive Sebastien Belanger.
She talked of initially being the only police officer there.She talked of initially being the only police officer there.
"Time just stood still. I just wanted some help," she said."Time just stood still. I just wanted some help," she said.
The Belanger family listened intently to their interpreter as PC Kerr described standing guard while Lisa Deacon and Craig Smith did what they could for Mr Belanger.The Belanger family listened intently to their interpreter as PC Kerr described standing guard while Lisa Deacon and Craig Smith did what they could for Mr Belanger.
None of them knew whether the attackers would come back and PC Kerr, who only had a baton for protection said: "I was very aware that where I was standing, I was trying to cover three potential entrances and exits."None of them knew whether the attackers would come back and PC Kerr, who only had a baton for protection said: "I was very aware that where I was standing, I was trying to cover three potential entrances and exits."
Ambulance service incident response officer Nicholas Lesslar told the court he was unaware there were seriously injured casualties in the courtyard.Ambulance service incident response officer Nicholas Lesslar told the court he was unaware there were seriously injured casualties in the courtyard.
Questioning PC Kerr on behalf of the victim's family, Gareth Patterson QC said: "If you had been told there were LAS [London Ambulance Service] resources available before then, up on the High Street, presumably you would have discussed getting Sebastien up to those ambulances as quickly as possible?"Questioning PC Kerr on behalf of the victim's family, Gareth Patterson QC said: "If you had been told there were LAS [London Ambulance Service] resources available before then, up on the High Street, presumably you would have discussed getting Sebastien up to those ambulances as quickly as possible?"
PC Kerr said: "We would have discussed it, yes."PC Kerr said: "We would have discussed it, yes."
Mr Belanger's mother told the inquest on its opening day that she was "so proud" of him.Mr Belanger's mother told the inquest on its opening day that she was "so proud" of him.
The other seven people killed in the attack were James McMullan, 32, Xavier Thomas, 45, Alexandre Pigeard, 26, Chrissy Archibald, 30, Ignacio Echeverria, 39, Sara Zelenak, 21, and Kirsty Boden, 28.The other seven people killed in the attack were James McMullan, 32, Xavier Thomas, 45, Alexandre Pigeard, 26, Chrissy Archibald, 30, Ignacio Echeverria, 39, Sara Zelenak, 21, and Kirsty Boden, 28.
The inquest into their deaths continues.The inquest into their deaths continues.