Paramedic Who Responded to Hainault Sword Attack Invited to Royal Garden Party
By Community Correspondent
A London Ambulance Service paramedic who faced a sword-wielding attacker while responding to the Hainault tragedy has been invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace today.
Lachlan Allan was just 21-years-old when he and his crewmate responded to the first 999 call. It was their first call of the day – just before 7am on 30 April 2024.
It was reported as a stabbing at Hainault Underground Station.
Lachlan said: “There wasn’t anyone there so we drove around until we heard screaming. We jumped out of the ambulance to help.”
As Lachlan got out, a man armed with a sword ran towards him, forcing the crew to take cover inside the vehicle.
“We locked the doors, but he kept coming for us. He was grabbing the door handles and smashing his sword against the window, trying to smash through it. It was terrifying. We could see he wanted to kill us,” Lachlan added.
The pair tried to drive away from him but were trapped in a dead end. Colleagues in the 999 control room told them police were on their way.
But then they heard over the radio that the police officers sent to assist had themselves been attacked.
Lachlan’s crewmate managed to turn the ambulance around. CCTV footage later shown in court captured the moment the attacker tried to chase the ambulance as it drove towards the victims.
Lachlan said: “We just looked at each other and knew we had to get back out of the ambulance. We were scared because we knew the attacker was still out there but we had to help.”
By this time more ambulance crews were arriving at the scene. London Ambulance Service had declared a significant incident.
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The teams treated five patients and took all of them to hospital. Sadly, they included 13-year-old Daniel Anjorin who died at hospital.
It was only Lachlan’s second shift without a mentor.
Royal Garden Parties are held each summer to recognise people from across the UK for their service to others. Lachlan is due to attend Buckingham Palace today.
Lachlan said: “It is such an honour to be invited to the Royal Garden Party. It will be a very special occasion although it comes in the context of a very sad day.
“My thoughts remain with everyone affected and I feel very humbled and immensely proud of how our crews and the other emergency services responded in such difficult and tragic circumstances.”
