Boyfriend helplessly cradled bride-to-be as she died in his arms
A WOMAN struck by the terrorists’ van died in her fiance’s arms on London Bridge, his family said yesterday.
Christine Archibald, 30, the first victim named, had been on a night out with Tyler Ferguson. The brideto-be, known as Chrissy, had worked at a homeless shelter in her native Canada before moving to Europe. Yesterday her family paid tribute to her kindness and generosity.
Describing Mr Ferguson’s anguish, his sister Cassie Ferguson Rowe told Canadian television: ‘ He is broken into a million pieces. He held her and watched her die in his arms.’
She added on Facebook: ‘ My baby brother lost the love of his life on London Bridge. In a split second his entire life was ripped away from him.’
The Canadian couple moved to the Netherlands last year and Mr Ferguson’s brother Mark said they were ‘very madly in love’.
He wrote on Facebook: ‘ These senseless acts of terror need to stop. What does it accomplish other than wreck the lives of innocent people?’
Miss Archibald’s family said: ‘ We grieve the loss of our beautiful, loving daughter and sister. She had room in her heart for everyone and believed strongly that every person was to be valued and respected.
‘She lived this belief working in a shelter for the homeless until she moved to Europe to be with her fiance. She would have had no understanding of the callous cruelty that caused her death.
‘Please honour her by making your community a better place. Volunteer your time and labour or donate to a homeless shelter. Tell them Chrissy sent you.’ Supporters and well-wishers began tweeting pledges to carry out charitable acts in Miss Archibald’s memory, using the Twitter hash tag ‘Chrissysentme’.
Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau said: ‘I am heartbroken that a Canadian is among those killed. We grieve with the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones, and wish all those injured a speedy and full recovery.
‘Londoners and people across the United Kingdom have always displayed strength and resilience in the face of adversity. We witnessed this after the attacks in Manchester and in the Westminster area of London. This time will be no different.’