Loxton community pays tribute to nurse Kirsty Boden, killed in London terror attack
SUNFLOWERS, Kirsty Boden’s favourite flower, have been placed at the foot of the Loxton town sign as the community pays tribute to the nurse, who was killed in the London Bridge terror attacks.
- Riverland nurse killed in London terror attacks
- Selfless act of sacrifice from a real free spirit
- Shocking video of how cops shot London jihadis
GIFTED academic. Talented sportswoman. Adventurous traveller. But above all, Kirsty Boden was a warm heart with an omnipresent smile and an insatiable want to help others that sadly cost her own life.
The people and institutions that Ms Boden touched with her infectious personality and selfless nature yesterday spoke of their fond memories of the 28-year-old nurse killed in the London terror attacks as she went to the aid of others.
As the Loxton community where she grew up rallied around her grieving family and flags in the Riverland town flew at half mast, tributes poured in.
This morning Loxton locals placed flowers and other tributes at the foot of the town’s sign, which stands proudly at the top of a small park on main street East Terrace.
Cards, candles, a miniature Australian flag and flowers, including of bunch of vibrant sunflowers, of which The Advertiser understands Ms Boden was particularly fond, were laid in tribute.
One card said: “our thoughts are with you at this sad time (and) prayers”, while another read “your beautiful soul is forever free”.
Former Loxton High School student Sińead Wormald grew up with Ms Boden and said the champion swimmer didn’t have a selfish bone in her body.
“In and outside of school Kirsty was a lovely, bubbly personality. The sort of person that no one had a bad word to say about because there just simply weren’t any to say,” she said.
“She was a talented swimmer and her and her brother always attributed largely to
any successes we had in our inter-school swimming carnivals.
“She also helped out by teaching younger kids swimming which says a lot about
her I feel. Loxton is a small community and the high school has a proud history which Kirsty greatly contributed to.”
Immanuel College, where she boarded in Year 11 and 12 and graduated in 2006, described her as an outstanding young person and a committed student with a warm, considerate nature and a bubbly personality.
“Kirsty had a warm, considerate nature and a bubbly personality that quickly earned her the respect and admiration of both staff and students,” the school said.
“Kirsty was a conscientious and committed student who took her studies seriously. She was awarded a senior scholarship and earned the Academic Prize for English in 2005.”
Ms Boden was a keen athlete who was actively involved in volleyball and athletics — but her real passion was for swimming and she still holds a school record in the butterfly.
“Kirsty’s sense of community and willingness to give her time and energy for the benefit of others was unquestionable,” the school said.
“Kirsty was a lovely caring young woman. She always had a smile on her face and was warm and welcoming to all she met. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.”
Ms Boden went on from Immanuel College to study nursing at Flinders University, graduating in 2009 and leaving an indelible mark on those who knew her.
Flinders Uni vice-chancellor Colin Stirling said she was a high achiever, and “popular and much loved by staff and peers for her enthusiasm, dedication, and zest for life”.
She won a nursing scholarship to study abroad in 2008.
“Kirsty displayed immense courage in helping others in their time of desperate need, reportedly running towards danger to do what she could to bring aid and comfort to those injured in the horrific attacks,” he said.
“She embodied all that is good in the face of adversity. It’s said that character isn’t forged in a crisis; it is revealed. Kirsty revealed in the most extraordinary way her devotion, bravery and professionalism in her act of selflessness.”
Loxton Mayor Leon Stasinowsky said the council held a meeting yesterday to discuss how to commemorate Ms Boden.
“It’s just shock and horror that something like this has happened so far away yet so close to home with one of our own members of the community that’s been sadly taken,” he said.
“She’s remembered as a person who (would go) out of her way to excel in whatever it was she was taking on whether it be sport, she was a top swimmer, at her school work, she was very good a helping others and then her profession as a nurse.”
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said it was a “heartbreaking” tragedy.
“Kirsty Boden was a beautiful young woman from Loxton, who left South Australia to explore the world using her talents as a nurse to care for others,” he said.
“She died doing just that, trying to help others.
“This is just so cruel, so wrong for someone so compassionate to be taken from us by such an inexplicable act of evil.”
Her family declined to comment further yesterday beyond the statement released on their behalf by the London Metropolitan Police on Tuesday night.
“She was the most outgoing, kind and generous person who loved to help people,” the family said.
“Helping people was what she loved to do in her job as a nurse and in her daily life.
“As she ran towards danger, in an effort to help people on the bridge, Kirsty sadly lost her life.
“We are so proud of Kirsty’s brave actions which demonstrate how selfless, caring and heroic she was, not only on that night, but throughout all of her life.”
“Kirsty — we love you and we will miss you dearly.”