Doctor f led safety of locked restaurant to help terror victims
A DOCTOR who saved a London Bridge victim after she was stabbed 18 times had fled the safety of a locked restaurant, saying: ‘I can’t watch them die.’
Jonathan Moses was having tapas with a friend when he heard screaming and spotted bodies lying on the pavement through a window.
The 36-year-old junior doctor, who had only worked in A&E for four months, rushed to help Marie Bondeville who had been stabbed in her face and body.
As three knife-wielding fanatics continued their rampage, the doctor knelt down and told her: ‘I’m going to save you.’
His quick intervention helped stem the blood loss and gave surgeons the chance to save her in hospital, an inquest heard.
Miss Bondeville, a French marketing intern, was put into an induced coma for a week and spent 25 days in hospital. She has made a full recovery.
Dr Moses told the Old Bailey yesterday: ‘I immediately wanted to help so I ran. I told my friend: “I’m going outside to help.” I ran down the stairs.
‘The restaurant was in a panic – people running away from the door, people screaming.’ He rushed to the door, only to find it was locked and guarded by a manager who refused when he demanded to be let out. Jaume Planas Lopez told him: ‘There’s people being attacked, I can’t let you out.’
Dr Moses pleaded: ‘I can’t watch them die. You have to let me out and lock the door after me to keep people safe.’
Mr Lopez relented and watched as the doctor ran to Miss Bondeville and Spanish banker Ignacio Echeverria, 39, who were both badly injured.
Mr Echeverria was stabbed after he attacked the terrorists with his skateboard.
Dr Moses told the court: ‘I had to make a quick decision. I did not know what was the right thing to do because I had not been trained for such a situation.
‘I went to [Miss Bondeville] first because she was showing signs of life and that was where I thought I could help the best. I told her: “I’m a doctor, I’m here to help you.”
‘I asked her what her name was and what happened, if she was in pain, if she could remember anything.’
Miss Bondeville had just finished a romantic meal with boyfriend Oliver Dowling when they were attacked by the terrorists. She decided to ‘play dead’ because she thought they were about to decapitate her.
When Dr Moses found her, she was unable to answer his basic questions. All she could say was: ‘I’m going to die, I’m going to die.’
The doctor told the court: ‘I held her hand. I told her: “You are not going to die. I’m going to save you.”
‘I remember thinking the wounds looked like they were deliberate penetrating stab wounds. I initially thought this was a mugging or gang attack.’
The doctor then moved to treat Mr Echeverria, who showed ‘no signs of life’. He performed CPR until Mr Echeverria was pronounced dead at 10.58pm – about 50 minutes after he had left the restaurant. Dr Moses then went on to treat other casualties, the court heard.
Khuram Butt, 27, Youssef Zaghba, 22, and Rachid Redouane, 30, launched their attack just after 10pm on June 3, 2017. Before being shot dead by police, the terrorists murdered eight and left 48 injured.
The inquest continues.
‘I’m going to save you’