Six hero Brit soldiers tell how they rushed to save injured Vegas victims amid hail of gunfire
Soldiers from The Queen's Dragoon Guards ran towards the gunfire to try and save concert-goers while on holiday in the US
SIX hero British soldiers have described how they "went into action" to save victims of the Las Vegas massacre under a hail of gunfire.
The off-duty troops from the Queen's Dragoon Guards were on holiday near the music festival when Stephen Paddock opened fire on hundreds of concert-goers.
Stuart Finlay, 25, Ross Woodward, 23, Dean Priestly, 28, James Astbury, 22, Chris May, 24 and Zak Davdison, 21, ran towards the gunfire and began shepherding people to safety.
The servicemen said their training helped them stay calm under a rapid gunfire as people lay wounded around them and thousands fled for their lives.
Trooper Ross Woodward, from Nottingham, he tried to help a man who had been shot in the back but couldn't save his life.
He said: "It is a decision that will live with me for the rest of my life but I would do the same thing again.
"It was quite tough and I know it is a cliche but the training does kick in, it became second nature.
"It was just chaos and panic and people needed my help and I just did what I could do."
Chris May, 24, from Bognor Regis, added: "I feel that any British Army soldier who was in the same position being so close would have done exactly the same."
Trooper Stuart Finlay, 25, from Ellesmere Port, said: "To be honest, I wasn't thinking of very much, I just needed to help. It is nice to know that everyone's proud of you."
Trooper James Astbury, 22, from North Wales, said: "It is really weird to talk about because I've never been through anything like that in my life and it is hard to explain."
Trooper Zak Davidson, 21, from Hereford, said: "Training definitely kicks in and helps you keep a level head and the training we have done out here helps in stressful situations."
Trooper Dean Priestley, 28, from North Wales, said: "I've got two kids at home and I did wonder what I was going to do, if I'd get back to see them again but you have to push that to one side because effectively there was a job to do."
The men are all based in Norfolk and due to return to the UK this weekend.
Commanding officer Major Ben Parkyn said he was extremely proud of their selfless actions.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the troopers, who are trained to treat battlefield wounds, provided first aid and medical assistance to victims until the emergency services arrived.
It comes as a fast-acting an Iraq war veteran saved as many as 30 victims in the Las Vegas massacre by driving them to the hospital in a pickup truck he’d stolen to take them there.
Taylor Winston, 29, credits his military background with helping terrified concertgoers Sunday night at the Route 91 Harvest festival climb over a fence to safety.
After finding keys inside a white Chevrolet Silverado parked in a lot, he piled some of the wounded concertgoers into the truck and sped to Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center about five miles away.
“I started looking for people to take to the hospital,” Winston told “There was just too many and it was overwhelming how much blood was everywhere.”
Winston — who joined the Marines when he was 17 and served two tours in Iraq — was drinking and dancing with pals and his girlfriend Jenn Lewis when shots suddenly rang out.
“People started scattering and screaming and that’s when we knew something real was happening,” Winston said. “The shots got louder and louder, closer to us and saw people getting hit, it was like we could be hit at any second.
“Once we got to the fence, I helped throw a bunch of people over, and got myself over. It was a mini war zone but we couldn’t fight back.”
Winston, who was honorably discharged in 2011 as a sergeant, estimated he probably transported “20 to 30 people” to the hospital that night.
“Once we dropped them off, we were like well, let’s go back for round two and go get some more,” he said. “I think a lot of my training in the military helped me in the situation."
“We needed to get them out of there regardless of our safety.”
Winston, who returned the truck’s keys to the owner Monday night, said he doesn’t want to be hailed as a hero for doing the right thing.
“There was a lot of bravery and courageous people out there,” he said. “I’m glad that I could call them my countryfolk.”
Paddock opened fire on country music fans from his hotel room on the 32nd floor at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas.
He was a retired accountant who flew small planes and had no criminal record, authorities said.
It's still not clear why he carried out the attack, but police say he had placed surveillance cameras inside and outside the hotel room from where he launched his attack.
Chilling pics have emerged showing his body surrounded by bullet shells and guns after he shot himself before cops could stop his slaughter.
Las Vegas police suggested last night his girlfriend Marilou Danley a “person of interest” in the case.
Danley who had been in the Philippines, was flown back to the United States for questioning by police.
It emerged Paddock had wired £75,000 to the Philippines, Danley’s home country, the week before his spree.
