LONDON: The Prince of Wales has thanked a Pakistani consultant neurosurgeon for treating injured victims of Westminster terrorism attack by Khalid Masood.

Neurosurgeon Dr Irfan Malik, a graduate of Nishter Medical College, led the team of doctors and staff at the King’s College who treated the injured patients who were brought to the hospital minutes after a terrorist, Khalid Masood, hit pedestrians on the Westminster Bridge on his suicide mission. Dr Malik was the senior team leader surgeon on call that day when the terrorist attack unfolded around the Palace of Westminster.

At least 50 people were injured who required treatment at hospitals across central London, mainly at King’s College because of its reputation as “trauma centre”.

The Prince of Wales visited King’s College Hospital in London to meet the injured patients to boost their morale and met the hospital staff who treated and looked after the victims.

Speaking to Geo News at the King’s College, Dr Irfan Malik said he felt proud and that as a Pakistani doctor he was able to help victims of terrorism and play his part in getting the victims back on their feet.

Malik, who also treated Army Public School student Muhammad Ibrahim Khan at the Harley Street clinic last year, said that the Westminster terror attack was a “major, serious incident” in which the car of Khalid Masood had “hit the pedestrians with high impact” and caused “serious brain and spine injuries including long bone injuries”.

He told Geo News: “It was a chaotic situation and patients who were brought in through air ambulance were injured seriously. Most of the injuries were of spine and brain.”

Speaking about his experience of meeting the Prince of Wales, Dr Malik shared that he was told by the hospital management that someone “important” was coming to see the patients and also to meet the staff to thank them for their role. “I was told that the Prince would like to meet the surgeons who treated the patients and my name was put forward. When we met him, his highness appreciated us for our role and he made inquiries about the incident. The Prince of Wales was very happy that we supported patients.”

He said that he feels proud that he originally trained in Pakistan, but now serving in London. He said that Pakistanis know very well how terrorism impacts lives. He said that “unfortunately Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism and its name is associated with terrorism because of a minority”.

The surgeon said he was helping the injured victims so they could go back to work and take control of their lives. He said that the patients were being looked after well and some will stay in the hospital for long.

Dr Irfan Malik said that as soon as the terror attack was over, he was informed that a major incident has happened and that we should be prepared to deal with a lot of casualties.

“We got the wards ready immediately to admit the patients. Some were rushed in operation theatre immediately because they needed emergency treatment. We are always prepared for such situations as we go through demonstrations routinely to deal with such emergency situations.”