Barcelona attack: nurse describes ‘chaos’ and trying to help the injured
A Spanish nurse has described how he fought to save the life of a little boy injured in yesterday's terror attack in Barcelona.
Albert Tort said he was near Las Ramblas in the city when a van drove through crowds of pedestrians at high speed on Thursday afternoon.
Resuscitate
‘I saw about eight or nine dead on the ground,' he is quoted as saying in the Mirror
‘(Along) with a doctor we tried to resuscitate a little boy, but it was no longer possible. It was chaos.
‘I did not see the van. I only saw the police.’
Albert, 41 ans, est infirmier, il vit à Barcelone il a tenté un massage cardiaque sur un garçon mais n'a pu le sauver #AttaqueBarcelone pic.twitter.com/51OlIKdJKM
— Grégory Leclerc (@GregLeclerc) August 17, 2017
Critical condition
Some 16 people are known to have died and more than 100 injured, 15 of whom are said to be in a critical condition.
James Paget University Hospital transformation nurse Joan Pons Laplana is a Spanish national who worked as an emergency nurse at the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona before moving to England.
He told Nursing Standard he found out about the attack shortly before boarding a flight at Manchester Airport to Barcelona for a two week holiday to visit his parents with his son and daughter.
Panic
He planned to attend a memorial service in Catalunya on Friday to pay tribute to the victims, before giving blood at the hospital where he worked.
‘My ex-wife rang in panic to tell me what had happened,' he said.
‘I was so shocked, I spent the next hour in a horrible state trying to locate all my friends and family.
‘My auntie took a long time to reply and I was going frantic.’
Anger and sadness
Describing the streets of Barcelona as ‘deserted’ and ‘like a ghost town’ he added: ‘I am full of anger and sadness at what has happened.
‘Yesterday we saw the worst of humanity – but we also saw the best in terms of how locals responded.
‘Everyone is coping well, but they are short of blood, especially O Negative, which is why I will go and donate mine later.
‘This is such a wonderful place, maybe not today, but I know it will be again soon.’
Messages of solidarity
UK-based nurses to taken to social media and express messages of condolence and solidarity:
Our thoughts go out to all our Spanish friends and colleagues this morning #barcelona pic.twitter.com/5tdR5GUjz5
— WeNurses (@WeNurses) August 18, 2017
Thinking of all affected by #BarcelonaTerrorAttack
— hellomynameis Paul (@pauljebb1) August 17, 2017
Our prayers and thoughts with the people of Spain at this time @cisanim and all health professionals dealing with the victims and families
— Cecilia Anim CBE (@cisanim) August 17, 2017
Barcelona is a great city. Hubby & I have been many times & stayed on Las Ramblas. Thoughts & prayers are with all affected #BarcelonaAttack
— Bev (@NurseBev1976) August 18, 2017
The World once again feels a bit sadder this morning but we will unite and stand up against hate. Sending love to #Barcelona #StopTerrorism
— Laura Francis (@PaedsNurseLaura) August 18, 2017
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