Best pal of fourth London terror attack victim Leslie Rhodes played friend Queen songs as he lay dying in hospital
THE fourth victim killed in the Westminster terror attack has been dubbed "the nicest man you ever met" as he is named as Leslie Rhodes.
The 75-year-old died while listening to Queen after he had his life-support switched off last night, having been treated at King’s College Hospital prior to his death.
His friend, Michael Carney, had known Mr Rhodes for about 40 years and played Queen for him as as he lay critically ill in hospital.
The 74-year-old neighbour said: "My wife and my two girls went up there and were with him until he died, playing him music. He liked Queen and that."
"He had no-one. You can't have someone dying on their own.
"What harm did he ever do to anyone? He was the nicest man you ever met."
Mr Carney added: “He was a ladies’ man — don’t get me wrong, I mean in the best sense.
“He liked women and they liked him. He was a lovely man.
“He was really healthy. You’d have said he’d have lasted into his 90s at least.
“He was supposed to be retired but he was still up ladders.
“He did some window cleaning for friends and private jobs.”
Mrs Carney, a grandma of 13, said Mr Rhodes would help carry her shopping. She added: “The police advised us not to go to the hospital but when I rang there the doctors wanted us to come down.
“We were trying to talk to him but kept crying all the time we were by his bed. The doctors got us to take his favourite music, which was Queen.
Do you have any pictures or information about London terror attacker Khalid Masood - aka Adrian Elms or Adrian Russell Ajao? We pay for your photos and stories! Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368
“When they told us he had died my daughter Emma tried to tickle his feet to make sure he’d gone because that’s what I used to say to the girls when they were little.
“I was glad we did go to see him so he had someone there.
“Hopefully he knew we were there and could hear us. They say hearing is the last thing to go.
“He will leave a big hole in the community. We all know each other round here. He knew everybody.”
Another friend Philip Williams, 61, said: “Leslie was my neighbour for 24 years. I used to see him every day.
“He would do anything for anybody. It’s such a shock.”
“He was very fit. He cycled everywhere and would walk for miles. Even though he was 75 he was really trim.”
Mr Rhodes’s sister-in-law Audrey also visited him in hospital.
Audrey, married to his brother Roy who died two years ago, said: “The state of him in hospital was absolutely horrific. It was so awful.”
Scotland Yard confirmed the tragic death, saying that two people remain in hospital in a critical condition, one with life-threatening injuries.
Neighbours paid tribute to the retired window cleaner, remembering him as a "lovely man".
Friend Philip Williams said he had known the 75-year-old for more than two decades, saying: "He was a lovely man. He would do anything for anybody."
He said that Mr Rhodes was not married and had no children.
The 61-year-old said that his friend had been "as fit as a fiddle", saying: "It's a crime that he's been taken."
He said that he believed he had been at St Thomas' hospital when he was crossing Westminster bridge.
Two police officers injured in the attack remain in hospital with "significant injuries".
Mum-of-two Aysha Frade was just one of the victims killed in the attack.
She is believed to have been picking up her children from school when she was killed,
The 43-year-old Spanish citizen worked as a college worker in London and had family in the Spanish town of Betanzos.
US tourist Kurt Cochran also died from his injuries when the Hyandai mounted the pavement, having been travelling through Europe to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary.
The innocent casualties include 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, two Greeks, and one each from Germany, Poland, Ireland, China, Italy and the United States.
Thousands turned out to Trafalgar Square last night, with the show of unity including message of "love for all, hatred for none".
It comes after police revealed that attacker Khalid Masood, whose death pushed the total toll of Wednesday's attack to five, was born Adrian Russell Ajao.
Masood, who was shot down by police, mowed down pedestrians long a pavement in Westminster before stabbing a cop to death in the grounds of Parliament.
Before he was shot he stabbed PC Keith Palmer and Scotland Yard today confirmed three other officers were injured - PC Kris Aves, who sustained life changing injuries, PC Roger Smith and PC Bradley Bryant.
Labour MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna tweeted out his support for the family of the latest victim Leslie Rhodes, saying: "Deeply saddened to hear that my constituent Leslie Rhodes has died from the injuries he sustained in Wednesday's shocking & awful attack.
"The thoughts and prayers of all our community are with Mr Rhodes' family and friends - we can only imagine what they are going through."
MOST READ IN NEWS
Scotland Yard last night said: "Detectives investigating the terrorist attack in Westminster on Wednesday, 22 March can confirm that a 75-year-old man died tonight, Thursday, 23 March.
"The man had been receiving medical treatment in hospital following the attack and life "support was withdrawn this evening."
"Next of kin have been informed and are receiving support from specially trained family liaison officers."
More vigils are expected to be held on Friday.
Two "significant" arrests have been made, with one arrest made in the West Midlands and the other in the North West.
Police have revealed this morning that nine people remain in custody, with police having seized more than 2,700 items.
Of the original eight arrested, a woman has been bailed.
More than 3,500 witnesses have been contacted by investigating police.
The mum of the attacker was "too upset" to comment last night.
Janet Ajao, 69, who runs a business selling hand-made cushions and bags was being questioned by cops at her remote farmhouse in South West Wales.
Grey-haired Janet appeared briefly at the door while speaking to a uniformed officer.
A police source said: “She is too upset and adamant she won’t make any comment on anything at the moment.”
Janet and her husband Phillip — Masood’s stepdad — live in the village of Trelech in Welsh-speaking rural Carmarthenshire.