News from around the county London stab victim sent email from hospital bed
A Kent man among six people stabbed when a knifeman went on the rampage in London, emailed colleagues from his hospital bed to tell them he had been hurt.
Bernard Hepplewhite, 67, from Wainscott, near Rochester, was knifed in the stomach in Russell Square, Camden.
Despite his injuries, he took the time to email colleagues at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham from hospital to apologise because he wouldn’t be able to turn up this week.
Mr Hepplewhite, a retired tax expert, has worked as a volunteer at the Dockyard for several years, as part of the attraction’s conservation team.
He gives up his spare time about once a week to help paint and repair the historic ships.
The widower, known affec- tionately as ‘the tax man’ by other volunteers and staff, emailed the Dockyard on Friday from hospital, where he is still recovering.
Paul Barnard, from Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, said: “It was very sweet, and very him.
“He has been a volunteer for several years and very popular and likeable. It was a shock to find out he had been caught up in the stabbings.
“He is a nice chap and it is just horrifying for something like this to happen.
The attack, on Wednesday of last week, left US tourist Darlene Horton, 64, dead, and five others were injured, including Mr Hepplewhite, a second American, two Australians and an Israeli.
Mr Hepplewhite, known as Bernie, was said to be standing yards away from Mrs Horton at the time of the attack.
Prayers have been said for Mr Hepplewhite at English Martyrs Catholic Church in Strood where he attends mass each week.
The suspect, Zakaria Bulhan, 19, was brought down by armed police using a Taser following the six-minute attack.
He was charged with murder and five counts of attempted murder on Friday, and appeared at the Old Bailey this week.
He was remanded in custody until February.