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Las Vegas shootings: Cheshire soldier helped victims Las Vegas shootings: British soldiers speak of 'chaos'
(about 3 hours later)
One of the British soldiers praised by the prime minister for helping victims of the Las Vegas massacre said he was "trying to do what I thought was best". Three British soldiers praised by the prime minister for helping victims of the Las Vegas massacre have spoken of the "pandemonium" they faced.
Trooper Stuart Finlay, of Cheshire, was celebrating his 25th birthday with two comrades when gunman Stephen Paddock killed at least 58 people on Sunday. Troopers Chris May, Stuart Finlay and Ross Woodward abandoned a birthday meal when Stephen Paddock started shooting from a nearby hotel on Sunday.
The trio abandoned a meal in a nearby hotel to help victims, including a woman who was shot in the leg. They helped treat victims after at least 58 people were killed and nearly 500 injured in less than 10 minutes.
"As soon as it does happen, your training kicks in," Pte Finlay said. Trooper Finlay, from Cheshire, said he was "trying to do what I thought best".
Their actions earned praise from Theresa May, who thanked them for their efforts earlier this week. He had been doing training in California as part of the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards regiment before he took leave with Troopers Woodward and May to celebrate his 25th birthday in the city.
Pte Finlay had been doing training in California as part of the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards regiment before he took leave with Troopers Ross Woodward and Chris May to celebrate his birthday in the city.
The three of them had been in the Tropicana, a hotel which faces the Mandalay Bay Hotel where Paddock was shooting from, and initially thought they were hearing fireworks, before recognising the sound as gunfire.The three of them had been in the Tropicana, a hotel which faces the Mandalay Bay Hotel where Paddock was shooting from, and initially thought they were hearing fireworks, before recognising the sound as gunfire.
They then ran to the area between the two hotels, where up to 500 people had also been injured, and split up to help casualties.They then ran to the area between the two hotels, where up to 500 people had also been injured, and split up to help casualties.
"I found a woman, probably about my age, she was on the floor and she had got shot in the lower back," Pte Finlay, from Ellesmere Port, said. Trooper Woodward, from Nottingham, said he came across a man in his 30s who had been shot in his lower back and was struggling to breathe.
"I did everything I could to help him... minutes later, there was no response from the gentleman at all - I checked his pulse and realised he had passed away."
Trooper Woodward also helped at least three other victims, adding: "It was just chaos and pandemonium, there was panic everywhere.
"We were trying to get civilians that had frozen out of just pure fear and shock - that were standing in the street - it was getting them out of the way of the shooting so it was important to try and get them all in a safe location."
Trooper May, from Littlehampton, said: "I've never seen people as scared as what they were - just trying to climb over people, just trying to get out of the way."
Trooper Finlay, from Ellesmere Port, recalled finding a woman who had been shot in the lower back.
He said he used towels and a T-shirt to apply pressure to the wound, adding: "While I was treating this young lady, another woman had come who was shot in the leg so I tried to elevate her leg to stop the bleed and try and carry on dealing with the other woman."He said he used towels and a T-shirt to apply pressure to the wound, adding: "While I was treating this young lady, another woman had come who was shot in the leg so I tried to elevate her leg to stop the bleed and try and carry on dealing with the other woman."
He also helped a third woman who had broken her leg. Their actions earned praise from Theresa May, who thanked them earlier this week for their efforts.
"At the time I wasn't really thinking, I was just trying to do what I thought was best and that was helping people get to safety or treating injuries." Trooper Finlay said: "At the time I wasn't really thinking, I was just trying to do what I thought was best and that was helping people get to safety or treating injuries."
His father Kev said he was "panicking inside, fearing the worst" when he heard about the biggest shooting in modern US history.His father Kev said he was "panicking inside, fearing the worst" when he heard about the biggest shooting in modern US history.
"When I couldn't get in touch with him my head was all over the place. Once I found out what he did, I can't describe the feeling of pride and so much relief," he said. "When I couldn't get in touch with him, my head was all over the place. Once I found out what he did, I can't describe the feeling of pride and so much relief," he said.