'There's a hole in our heart that will never heal': Family of nurse who ran towards London Bridge terror attack in a bid to save lives break their silence
- Family of Australian nurse killed in London Bridge terror attack pay tribute to her
- Kirsty Boden from Loxton selflessly ran towards the attack in a bid to save others
- The 28-year-old's loved ones described her as a 'beautiful and brave' person
- The inquest into the 2017 attack will also look at safety and intelligence errors
Kirsty Boden (pictured) from Loxton, in the Riverland region of South Australia, bravely ran towards the terror attack to help others
The heartbroken family of a woman who selflessly ran towards the London Bridge terrorist attack in a desperate bid to save lives have paid tribute to the 'brave and beautiful' nurse.
In July 2017, three knife-wielding terrorists mowed down dozens of victims on the landmark London bridge before using 30cm ceramic kitchen knives to stab innocent members of the public - in a callous attack which took eight people's lives.
Kirsty Boden from Loxton, in the Riverland region of South Australia, had been out for dinner with friends when she heard the sound of the terrorist's white van crash, an inquest into the terrorist attack at London's Central Criminal Court heard on Wednesday.
The inquest, which is expected to last 10 weeks, will look into the deaths of the victims, safety mistakes and intelligence failures.
Chief Coroner Judge Mark Lucraft QC said the 28-year-old nurse had run towards the noise so she could assist anyone who was injured - but instead she was tragically stabbed to death.
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Ms Boden's shattered family broke their silence for the first time and said there was a hole in their hearts 'that will never heal', The Advertiser reported.
During the hearing, Ms Boden's father, Ken Boden, paid tribute to his 'beautiful and amazing' daughter.
Mr Hodder (pictured right) said Ms Boden's (pictured left) decision to put herself in danger in order to help others was 'an extension of how she lived her life'
Ms Boden's (pictured) heartbroken family have paid tribute to the 'brave and beautiful' nurse who put herself in danger in order to save the lives of others
He said his daughter was 'always willing to lend a hand', in a statement he read out to the court on behalf of his wife Christina, son Chris, and Ms Boden's fiancé James Hodder.
In a touching tribute Mr Boden spoke of how he missed his 'beautiful, independent, adventurous, brave' daughter 'every second of the day'.
Mr Boden said he would speak to his daughter, a senior nurse at Guy's Hospital in London, through Skype on Sundays.
Mr Boden also reminisced fondly about the time they had paid a trip to London to visit their 'amazing girl' and spoke of how Ms Boden had shown them around the city.
Mr Hodder, who had first met Ms Boden when they lived together in a London house share, said her decision to put herself in danger in order to help others was 'an extension of how she lived her life'.
The three terrorists, Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30 and Youssef Zaghba, 22, were later shot dead by armed police
Ms Boden (pictured) has been awarded an Australian Bravery Award and the Queen's Commendation for Bravery
Mr Hodder, from Britain, added the family were 'so unspeakably proud' of Mr Boden and they are in 'awe of her bravery'.
'To Kirsty it wouldn't have seemed brave, she loved people and lived her life helping others. To Kirsty her actions that night would have just been an extension of how she lived her life,' he said.
'We are so unspeakably proud of her and not a day goes by that we are not in awe of her bravery that night.'
Ms Boden has been awarded an Australian Bravery Award and the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for her amazingly brave actions that night.
Sara Zelenak, 21, from Brisbane who worked as an au pair was also killed in the terror attack.
The attack, undertaken by three perpetrators - Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30 and Youssef Zaghba, 22 - lasted less than 10 minutes.
The three terrorists, who wore fake explosive devices, were later shot dead by police.
The inquest continues.
Police forensic officers were seen working at the scene of the terror attack at London Bridge
