South Australian woman Kirsty Boden killed in London Bridge terror attack
UPDATE: Family, friends, colleagues and former school community have paid tribute to SA nurse Kirsty Boden, who died in the London attacks after she “ran towards danger, in an effort to help people”.
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SOUTH Australian nurse Kirsty Boden has been confirmed as one of the seven fatalities in the London Bridge terror attacks after she “ran towards danger, in an effort to help people”.
On Tuesday evening, the Metropolitan Police confirmed Ms Boden, 28, died in the Sunday morning attack (SA time).
A Flinders University nursing graduate Ms Boden had been living and working in London for a number of years as a nurse.
Her family described as Ms Boden as a woman who “was loved and adored by her family, friends and boyfriend”.
“She was the most outgoing, kind and generous person who loved to help people,” they said in a statement issued on their behalf by the London Metropolitan Police.
“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.”
Her former SA school, 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.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Kirsty’s family, friends and the Loxton community,” the school said.
“She was an active and vibrant member of our school and boarding community. Kirsty had a warm, considerate nature and a bubbly personality that quickly earned her the respect and admiration of both staff and students.
“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, the school said, actively involved in volleyball and athletics — but her real passion was for swimming.
“An exceptional swimmer, she amassed many accolades in the pool during her time at Immanuel. She was under-16s champion (2005), open champion (2006), most valuable swimmer (2005 and 2006) and swimming captain in 2006, receiving full colours for her contribution to swimming.
“In fact, Kirsty 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.
“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.”
Flinders Uni vice-chancellor Colin Stirling said Ms Boden was a high achiever, a “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 would discuss how to commemorate Ms Boden at a meeting on Wednesday.
“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.
“(Today) we’ll talk about the grief procedures and whether there’s anything (we can do).”
Premier Jay Weatherill spoke to the media on Wednesday morning, saying 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.”
The premier offered his heartfelt condolences to Ms Boden’s family and friends, as well as the Loxton community.
“To Kirsty’s family, your pain must be so unbearable,” he said.
“The South Australian community shares your heartbreak.
“We are incredibly proud of Kirsty ... and everything she did in her last moments, she made everyone proud.”
In a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police on behalf of Ms Boden’s family, she was described as woman who “was loved and adored by her family, friends and boyfriend.”
“She was the most outgoing, kind and generous person who loved to help people.”
“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.”
Ms Boden, who studied at Loxton High School and was also a boarder at Immanuel College, was “one of the nicest people you’d ever meet”, Sarah Recchia wrote on The Advertiser’s Facebook page.
Loxton High School former principal Kent Spangenberg remembered the young woman as a “talented sportswoman” who was “academically sound” and “enjoyed all aspects of her life”.
“She was so consistent – warm, caring, friendly, positive and just embraced all the opportunities that were afforded her.
“She was an absolutely outstanding young woman.
“Having a career in nursing you knew was absolutely the career she would embrace.”
He mourned the loss of the “senseless” tragedy and said “she’ll be sadly missed by the community”.
Immanuel College’s Kevin Richardson said Ms Boden moved to Adelaide to further her swimming career.
“I really feel for her family — Kirsty was very close to her family,” he said.
“She was one of those kids who was always caring. She was always looking after the new kids who came into boarding.”
She is believed to be the previously unidentified female fatality mentioned by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull said four Australians were believed to be caught up in the attack.
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.”
A message from Swimming SA posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday evening, said: “On behalf of the SA Swimming community we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Kirsty Boden.”
“This is a tragedy which will touch all who knew her.
“As a sport, we mourn for Kirsty and remember her great contribution to swimming and the Loxton community.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has confirmed a second Australian has been killed in the London Bridge terror attacks, 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.
Friends and family of Ms Zelenak, 21 have posted on social media about fears for her safety, saying she hasn’t been seen since she was separated from friends.
British police have named the third of the jihadis who killed seven people in a knife and van attack in London as Youssef Zaghba believed to be an Italian national of Moroccan descent.
Police said Zaghba, 22, had not been a subject of interest for them or for the MI5 domestic intelligence agency.
Earlier, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera had reported that Zaghba had been stopped at an Italian airport because authorities believed he was on his way to Syria, and that Italian officials had warned British counterparts about him.
Police had named the other two attackers as Khuram Butt, 27, a British national born in Pakistan, and Rachid Redouane, 30, who had claimed to be Moroccan and Libyan. Butt was previously known to security agencies and had appeared in a British TV documentary called “The Jihadis Next Door”.
The attack left seven people dead and 48 wounded before police shot dead the three attackers, who wore fake suicide vests.
Police say all 12 people arrested as part of the investigation have been released.
Authorities had detained seven women and five men aged between 19 and 60 at two addresses in Barking.
“We are trying to locate people as best we can,” a Metropolitan Police spokesman in London told AAP.
The spokesman said a casualty bureau had been set up to help people trying to find family members who may have been caught up in the attacks.
— with AAP