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45 MINUTES FROM DEATH

London attack hero PC Keith Palmer poses with American tourist less than an hour before terrorist Khalid Masood stabbed him

Keith Palmer posed in a photograph with US tourist Staci barely 45 minutes before the attack

THE last photograph of hero cop Keith Palmer has emerged, with the brave PC in a happy snap with an American tourist just 45 minutes before the terror attack that claimed his life.

The dedicated cop posed with grinning Staci Martin outside Parliament, with the pair devastatingly unaware of the horror that would unfold in less than an hour.

 Keith Palmer posed in a photograph with US tourist Staci martin barely 45 minutes before the attack
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Keith Palmer posed in a photograph with US tourist Staci martin barely 45 minutes before the attackCredit: Staci Martin

Staci, visiting the UK from her home in Florida, said she had immediately wanted a photo with the cop and his bobby hat, telling ABC news: "It's my first time in London and I see his hat and I'm like I have to take a picture of him with his hat.

"I walked up to him and said 'do you mind if I take a picture?' He said 'no problem', he was really nice."

The photograph shows PC Palmer giving a small smile to the camera - with friends now calling on the cop to be given a posthumous award for the bravery he showed in the face of the terror attack unleashed by Khalid Masood.

 MP Tobias Ellwood tried desperately to save PC Keith at the scene giving him CPR
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MP Tobias Ellwood tried desperately to save PC Keith at the scene giving him CPRCredit: PA:Press Association
 PC Palmer's colleagues surround him on the cobbles around Parliament after yesterday's atrocity
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PC Palmer's colleagues surround him on the cobbles around Parliament after yesterday's atrocityCredit: PA:Press Association

He leaves a daughter aged five.

The former bombardier in the Royal Artillery became a Met cop 15 years ago.

But he had been in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command less than a year.

His family said in a statement the Charlton Athletic fan was “proud to be a police officer”.

They said: “Keith will be remembered as a wonderful dad and husband. A loving son, brother and uncle.”

His seat at The Valley, Charlton’s stadium in South East London, was yesterday draped by the club with a red and white scarf.

Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood gave the dying cop CPR and mouth to mouth in an attempt to save his life.

The death toll from the Westminster terror attack tragically grew last night, with a 75-year-old man injured in the terror having his life support turned off.

Other victims include US tourist Kurt Cochran and mum Aysha Frade.

Three other officers were injured - PC Kris Aves, who sustained life changing injuries, PC Roger Smith and PC Bradley Bryant.

Theresa May said of murdered PC Keith Palmer: “He was every inch a hero.”

The PM led tributes in the Commons as the ex-soldier’s grieving family described him as a “wonderful dad and husband”.

 PC Keith Palmer was stabbed to death by a suspected terrorist outside the Palace of Westminster
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PC Keith Palmer was stabbed to death by a suspected terrorist outside the Palace of WestminsterCredit: PA:Press Association

Her words came as an appeal to raise money for the ­family of murdered Westminster cop Keith Palmer exceeded £300,000.

The , set up by PC Palmer’s Met Police colleagues, yesterday became the fastest crowdfunding page in history.

The Sun has pledged £10,000 to the fund, which will go to PC Palmer’s wife, 34, and their daughter aged five.

 PC Palmer has been remembered as a dedicated father and husband
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PC Palmer has been remembered as a dedicated father and husbandCredit: Facebook/Michelle Palmer
 Keith pictured with his daughter and wife during their wedding in 2014
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Keith pictured with his daughter and wife during their wedding in 2014
 The hero cop poses with a family while on duty at Parliament
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The hero cop poses with a family while on duty at ParliamentCredit: FACEBOOK

JustGiving also donated £10,000 and a spokesman said: “Yesterday we saw an attack on the city that JustGiving calls home — it was an attack on what we as a company hold dear: compassion, empathy and democracy.

“Today has shown the world that London’s spirit of compassion and togetherness will not be beaten.”

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