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GP trainee first on the scene at London terror attack

Dr Jeeves Wijesuriya, the new chairman of the BMA junior doctors committee and a GP trainee, was the first medic on the scene at yesterday’s terror attack in central London.

Dr Wijesuriya was off duty and being interviewed by the BBC in Westminster when he heard screams and ran to the scene, according to news reports.

He is understood to have treated two people, one of whom had been stabbed and another who had been shot. He told reporters he believed one of the patients was the attacker.

The junior doctor leader tweeted yesterday evening: ‘Home safe. Humbled by incredible efforts of paramedics, Met police and helicopter emergency medical service. Thoughts with those in hospitals tonight receiving and giving care.’

An as-yet unnamed attacker drove a car into people on Westminster Bridge on Wednesday at around 3pm before stabbing a police office, named as PC Keith Palmer, who died of his injuries.

The attacker was shot by police and died at the scene of the attack in which four people died and at least 40 people were injured. The police are treating the attack as a terrorist incident.

Doctors and nurses from St Thomas’s hospital ran over Westminster bridge to help treat the wounded.

Londonwide LMCs chief executive Dr Michelle Drage wrote on Dr Wijesuriya’s Facebook wall congratulating him for his efforts: ‘Good job Jeeves – ping me if at any time you feel the need to talk.’

Dr Drage was one of the first doctors on the scene in Tavistock Square during the 07/07/2015 terror attacks in London when a bomb tore apart a bus passing outside the BMA headquarters.

Former junior doctor committee chair Dr Johann Malawana used Twitter to express his pride in his successor.