Neighbours take poignant farewell to Westminster victim Leslie Rhodes
FRIENDS of a cricket-loving pensioner killed by the Westminster terrorist revealed how nurses told them: “He is going, kiss him now,” as he died in hospital.
Medics fought to save Leslie Rhodes but his life support machine was switched off
Medics fought to save Leslie Rhodes, 75, but his life support machine was switched off on Thursday, the day after Khalid Masood went on the rampage.
He was the fourth person to die in the terror attack.
The “super fit” window cleaner was hit by Masood’s hire car as he walked to an eye appointment.
He is going, kiss him now
Neighbours of 30 years Christine and Michael Carney, of Clapham, south London, rushed to King’s College Hospital trauma unit and kept vigil at the bedside of Mr Rhodes, who never married and had no children.
Mrs Carney, 70, said “wonderful” nurses and doctors made sure he went painlessly and surrounded by loved ones, including her daughters Emma, 34, and Rachel, 47.
Mrs Carney said: “It was really peaceful. The nurses kept coming in and turning down the oxygen.
Adele pays emotional tribute to London terror victims
Mr Rhodes was the fourth person to die in the terror attack
“The nurse said, ‘He is going, kiss him now’ and we were hugging him and kissing him, telling him we loved him. He would have hated it really. Getting that much attention.”
The doctors played his favourite Queen tunes as he slipped away.
Christine’s husband Michael didn’t go into the room because he “wanted to remember Les as he was”.
Neighbours kept vigil at his bedside
Mr Carney, 74, added: “He was his own man, never asked for anything.
“He loved cricket. He used to watch the Test matches at the Oval. He also loved fishing, he would go to the common and fish. He had a lot of friends there.”
Mr Carney said he and his wife were still reeling from their involvement in the attack.
Mr Carney said he and his wife were still reeling from their involvement in the attack
“We are devastated,” he said.
“We can’t stop thinking about it. Les was a fit man, he would cycle everywhere. He would have outlived all of us. That’s why I’m so angry. He wasn’t killed by an illness but by this terrible person.”