South Australian nurse Kirsty Boden killed in London terror attack ‘died a hero’
NURSE Kirsty Boden, slain by terrorists in London, was a free spirit who dreamt of travelling to as many “exotic locations as possible”.
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NURSE Kirsty Boden, slain by terrorists in London, was a free spirit who dreamt of travelling to as many “exotic locations as possible”.
The 28-year-old lived life to the fullest — and recently posted on her travel blog that she treasured every day, taking nothing for granted.
“At risk of sounding cliche, life is short and we should all use the time we have wisely,” she wrote.
“I have big travel dreams but I am realistic. I recognise that I might not go everywhere but I should definitely go everywhere I can, and so should you.”
Ms Boden, a former champion swimmer, died while trying to save one of the victims during London’s weekend attacks.
However, it is not known whether she was fatally injured when terrorists used a van to run down pedestrians on London’s iconic bridge or afterwards, when they went on a rampage with knives in a nearby market.
Her family, who live in the Riverland, released a statement through London’s Metropolitan Police.
Jane Garrard, who taught Ms Boden at Loxton High School, said she would not be surprised by her act of bravery, saying it would symbolise “her selfless attitude”.
“It does not surprise me that if there was a situation where someone was in need that she wouldn’t jump in and do that at her own expense,” she said.
“Her parents can rightly be very proud of her. She was very friendly, caring (and) always with a smile on her face.”
Ms Garrard said she was a “beautiful girl, inside and out”.
A Flinders Uni nursing graduate, Ms Boden had been living and working in London for a number of years as a health professional.
Ms Boden was “one of the nicest people you’d ever meet”, Sarah Recchia wrote on The Advertiser’s Facebook page.
She used London as a base for jaunts to Europe while continuing her work in healthcare.
The chief nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital — where Ms Boden worked in London — said she couldn’t put into words how sad she was that the hospital has lost one of its own.
‘Kirsty was an outstanding nurse and hugely valued member of the staff team in Theatres Recovery, described by her colleagues as ‘one in a million’ who always went the extra mile for the patients in her care,” Dame Eileen Sills said.
“Our thoughts at this time are with her family, her loved ones and our staff who have lost a dear friend and colleague.”
Ms Boden gave an insight of her life abroad in a series of online travel blogs.
“I have no plans to quit my job and travel the world taking selfies and instagramming my dinner,” she wrote.
“I’m just your average dreamer, with a fulltime job and a constant longing to go where I haven’t been.
“Just because you are time-poor like me, doesn’t mean that you should be missing out on these wonderful benefits.”
She described her travel mentality as “wanderlust while wearing a watch”.
She said she aimed to fully embrace life and, though she couldn’t travel everywhere, she wanted to go to as many exotic locations as possible.
Her travels took her to Germany, Lithuania, Switzerland and Bulgaria as well as around the United Kingdom.
In another post, Ms Boden said visiting historical sites around Europe reminded her of her high school years in SA, when she would stare at pictures of faraway lands.
She is believed to be the previously unidentified female fatality mentioned by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
This morning, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed a second Australian had been killed alongside Ms Boden.
Ms Bishop announced the death in a statement today.
She did not name the second victim, but it is believed to be Brisbane woman Sara Zelenak, for whom Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he had “real concerns” for yesterday.