Londoner, 75, dies after being mowed down on way to hospital

THE London pensioner killed in the terror attack was run down on Westminster Bridge as he made his way to a hospital appointment for an eye condition, it emerged today.

Leslie Rhodes was today named as the latest victim killed by terrorist Khalid Masood after doctors yesterday switched off his life support.

The 75-year-old, from Streatham, died at King’s College Hospital last night where he was being treated after being run over by Masood.

A Met Police officer who was also run down is believed to have “life-changing injuries”. Constable Kris Aves, 35, was walking along the bridge with two colleagues after a commendation ceremony when they were struck.

Pc Aves, a father, underwent eight hours of emergency surgery. His sister, Nikki Tapener, 42, said: “He has been hurt but his life is not in danger.”

Colleague Pc Roger Smith, in his early fifties, had surgery for leg injuries, while Pc Bradley Bryant was discharged after suffering minor injuries.

Pensioner Mr Rhodes lived alone and had been on his way to St Thomas’ hospital for a check-up for glaucoma, neighbours said. Friend Philip Williams, 61, said: “I saw him that morning and he was going off to hospital. He was hit near the entrance with Westminster Bridge. I was just shocked. I saw his car parked outside this morning after hearing the news and I just burst into tears. I can’t believe that he’s gone.” He added: “I didn’t regard him as just a neighbour but a good friend.

“He was one of the kindest men you could meet. He would do anything for you. He was a very, very kind man.”

Mr Rhodes, a former window cleaner, suffered “many broken bones” after apparently being hit in the midriff, Mr Williams, said, adding: “Apparently he went into a coma straight away.” Michael Carney, 74, who visited the pensioner in hospital, said: “As soon as we heard, my wife and two daughters, we went up to hospital because he has no family and you can’t die on your own. It was terrible seeing him like that. He wasn’t conscious.

“They were saying at the hospital that the car must have hit around the stomach area and then he’s hit his head on the ground going down and had no chance.”

Mr Rhodes’s MP Chuka Umunna also paid tribute to him today. He said: “Deeply saddened to hear that my constituent Leslie Rhodes has died from the injuries he sustained in Wednesday’s shocking & awful attack

“The thoughts and prayers of all our community are with Mr Rhodes’s family and friends.”

Mr Rhodes was a horse-racing and fishing enthusiast who grew up in Clapham, friends said. US tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, was also killed as he walked across the bridge.He was described by President Trump as a “Great American” in a tweet that was shared more than 80,000 times in less than three hours. Today his son Tylor