‘I tried to save him… he’d lost too much blood’: MP whose brother died in Bali attack tells of his battle to save stricken Parliament policeman

  • Tory MP Tobias Ellwood battled to save life of Keith Palmer after he was stabbed
  • Mr Ellwood, 50, gave mouth to mouth and applied pressure on officer’s wounds 
  • But MP said officer, 48, ‘had lost too much blood’ despite his efforts to save him 
  • Former Army officer has been praised for his actions on social media tonight 
  • He lost brother Jonathan in the 2002 Bali bombing by Islamic militant group

Tory MP Tobias Ellwood battled to save the life of a policeman stabbed outside Parliament today but said the officer had ‘lost too much blood’ after the attack.

The Bournemouth East MP, 50, gave mouth-to-mouth to PC Keith Palmer, 48, and put pressure on his wounds to stop the blood flow after he was stabbed by an assailant just inside the gates of the Parliamentary estate.

Mr Ellwood, a former army officer, was then pictured with blood on his face after the emergency services arrived and took over medical assistance.

The attacker is described as an ‘Asian’ man aged in his 40s. He is said to have ‘plunged a seven inch knife’ into the officer.

Mr Ellwood’s brother Jonathan was killed aged 39 in the 2002 Bali bombings by a Islamic militant group Jemaah Islamiyah.

Speaking just hours after the attack which has so far left four dead, including the attacker, Mr Ellwood, formerly a Captain in the Royal Green Jackets, said the attack was a ‘huge tragedy’.

He said: ‘I am a witness, I was the last one on the scene before he died so I am not allowed to say anything.

‘It is now murder, I was on the scene and as soon as I realised what was going on I headed towards it. It is a huge tragedy, it really is.

‘I tried to stem the flow of blood and give mouth to mouth while waiting for the medics to arrive but I think he had lost too much blood.

‘He had multiple wounds, under the arm and in the back.

‘As I understand it the attacker has also died. I’m not allowed to say anything, I’ll get into trouble. It’s very sad.’

A former soldier, Mr Ellwood – who was born in New York City – remained with the victim for some time before an air ambulance arrived.

He then returned to the Foreign Office, where he works as an Undersecretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Tory colleague Maria Miller said he ‘has given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to one victim’.

Many took to social media to praise Mr Ellwood and described themselves as ‘in awe’ of his actions.

One Twitter user said: If reports are true, Tobias Ellwood is a true British hero and deserves the utmost recognition for his actions.’