Dave Chawner came to victim's aid

Comedian Dave Chawner has spoken of how he came to the aid of one of the victims of the terrorist attack in Streatham yesterday afternoon.

The stand-up told how he comforted one of the stab victims for half an hour before an ambulance arrived at he scene in South London.

He has told the media how he was heading to the cinema when he saw what he thought was a shoplifter running down the street, then heard 'two minor explosions' which turned out to be the gunshots fired by police.

Speaking on TalkRadio, he said: 'I just saw what I thought was someone fall over then I saw someone get up and fall over again. I just instantly thought, "Oh here's been a shoplifting or a maybe a mugging".

'So like everyone would I just ran towards the situation and then there were more screams and there was a lot of shouting

'As I got near I heard what I thought was a car back iring. Then I saw their were guns and I saw there were three armed officers surrounding the assailant

'I backed off and as I did I saw, unfortunately, this poor bloke on the floor in a pool of his own blood'.

Chawner went to his aid, placing a blanket that he had with him over the knife wound to compress it. The comedian added that the man was 'not lucid'.

He added that the police were 'exceptional' and 'incredibly good' at dealing with the situation, but said said it was frustrating that it took 30 minutes for ambulance crews to come to the scene.

Comedian Dave Chawner saw yesterday's terror attack take place in Streatham: "The police were exceptional... but there was an innocent man bleeding for over half an hour before the ambulances arrived." Listen live ► https://t.co/sv3MZUm41c@JuliaHB1 | @DaveChawner pic.twitter.com/ndmqaDBf5u

— talkRADIO (@talkRADIO) February 3, 2020

London Ambulance Service says it had medics there within four minutes, but they were unable to treat victims until police confirmed it was safe to approach.

I had to stay with someone who’d just been #stabbed in #Streatham for 30 minutes before a single ambulance arrived.

I’m just over 1 mile from a hospital - I’m not having a go at anyone, but that’s not right

I just hope he made it

— Dave Chawner (@DaveChawner) February 2, 2020

A total of three people were hurt in the incident, but none of their injuries are thought to be life-threatening.

Police have named the man they shot dead as Sudesh Amman, 20, who was under active surveillance following his recent release from prison for planning Islamist-inspired terrorist attacks.

Published: 3 Feb 2020