The government minister who tried to resuscitate a police officer stabbed to death in the attack on parliament yesterday described the incident, saying “what a mad world.”
Tobias Ellwood, 50, a junior minister in the foreign office, walked away from the scene with blood on his face and hands.
Ellwood’s brief includes counter-terrorism. Before entering politics he served in Northern Ireland, Kuwait, Bosnia and other countries during a six-year spell in the British army.
Speaking to the Times newspaper, he said: “What a mad world – tried to save officer but stabbed too many times.”
“I was on the scene and as soon as I realised what was going on I headed towards it,” he said. “I tried to stem the flow of blood and give mouth-to-mouth while waiting for the medics to arrive but I think he had lost too much blood. He had multiple wounds, under the arm and in the back.”
Ellwood, whose brother was killed in a bomb attack in Bali in 2002, was hailed as a hero by fellow lawmakers, and many of newspapers featured images of him knelt over the body of the victim just inside the gates of parliament.
Prime Minister Theresa May also paid tribute to the Foreign Office minister. She phoned to thank him personally for performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Palmer, who was stabbed outside the Palace of Westminster in Wednesday’s terror attack.
Ellwood’s wife, London-based lawyer Hannah Ellwood, told the Evening Standard: “I’m proud of him.”
Jeremy Corbyn too praised Ellwood. “Our thanks and gratitude go to the police and emergency services who responded so bravely, and to those – including the MP Tobias Ellwood – who went to the aid of the injured and dying,” the Labour leader said.
Tony Davis, a coach for boxing team the British Lionhearts, was visiting Parliament with students from the Hammersmith Boxing Academy when the attack happened.
Friends said he jumped over a fence and also tried to revive Palmer, moments after seeing him stabbed with two knives.
Davis, his team T-shirt bloodied, was later seen being comforted by police officers.
He tweeted: “It was supposed to be a good day at House of Commons, but it weren’t!! I am so sorry for the policeman I tried to help.”
MP Tobias Ellwood listens to speeches in Parliament yesterday.
