According to an ICU doctor, the victim of novichok poisoning was treated and released that he had feared that assassins would come to the hospital to murder him.
James Haslam, consultant, stated that Yulia’s father Sergei Skripal (a Russian double agent) was being treated at the hospital and this caused concern for the medical staff.
His daughter and Mr Skripal were both found unconscious on a bench by Salisbury Cathedral’s Cathedral on March 4, 2018, after they had been poisoned with the nerve agent novichok.
Speaking for the first time since the incident in 2018, Dr Haslam said: ‘We had armed guards at the end of our ICU. Does anyone plan to return and take our patients away?
Could we be caught up in the cross fire?”
“It was something that we were worried about. After being thrown in the deep end, it was necessary for me to study on the job the effects of these toxic chemicals.
James Haslam, the ICU physician who treated the victims of novichok poisoning revealed that he was afraid assassins would come to his hospital and kill him while attempting to save lives.
Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and their son Yulia were discovered on a bench near Salisbury Cathedral in the afternoon on March 4. They had been poisoned by nerve-agent Novichok.
“That’s why it was so hard for me to sleep that week. My entire body was working overtime.
According to the Mirror, Dr Haslam stated that they initially thought the couple were suffering from opioid poisoning. However, he was certain that this was not the case.
He stated that they were critically ill and had suffered multiple organ failure. It was most likely an assassination attempt at this point, I believed.
Dr Haslam said he contacted the UK’s Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Regiment who confirmed the symptoms were consistent with poisoning by a military-grade nerve agent.
Discovery Plus’ Secrets of the Salisbury Poisonings will screen on Boxing Day. It features the efforts of Dr Haslam, and the Salisbury District Hospital medics.
The show is 90 minutes long and focuses on the work that Dr James Haslam did to help DS Bailey’s health.
According to Dr Haslam, armed guards were present at Salisbury District Hospital (photo).
Officer Nick Bailey (pictured) who came into contact with the military-grade chemical after he was sent to the Skripals’ home in the city – where it had been sprayed on the front door handle
The programme also features the poisoning and recovery of officer Nick Bailey who came into contact with the military-grade chemical after he was sent to the Skripals’ home in the city – where it had been sprayed on the front door handle.
Bailey stated that after 16 hours of work, Mr Bailey was tired and sweaty when he got home. The following day he woke hallucinating and sweating in what he calls ‘a tsunami of pure heat and fire’ following which he was admitted to A&E.
Dawn Sturgess was 44 when she discovered a bottle of novichok perfume and applied it to her wrist. She died four months later. Charlie Rowley, her boyfriend, was critically ill, but he recovered.
Mirror interview with Dr Haslam: “Dawn’s death was really heartbreaking for all of us.”
“Intensive care was my choice because my dad died from a serious illness when I was young and ICU guys saved him. That’s why I chose to care for patients.
Mr Bailey’s wife Sarah and the couple’s two children have had to leave the family home after traces of novichok were found in almost every room in the house. He added: ‘They lost everything that meant something to them.’
Pictured: A CCTV image taken by the Metropolitan Police for Russian Nationals Ruslan Borshirov (left) at Fisherton Road in Salisbury on March 4, 2018, 13:05hrs
Although Bailey made a complete physical recovery since then, he still experiences flashbacks. After trying three times on different occasions to resume his career as a police officer, he was forced to quit on medical grounds.
The suspected assassins – Russian intelligence officers Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin – were caught on CCTV as they travelled from Moscow to the Wiltshire cathedral city.
Denis Sergeev (a senior Russian agent) was thought to have been the third suspect. Following the unsuccessful attempt to murder them, they fled to Russia.
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, announced last month that Dawn Sturgess’s death would be the subject of a public inquest to determine the extent of Russian involvement.
According to Ms Patel, the inquiry will likely be held at Salisbury Guildhall as well as in London venues, and it should be completed ‘as quickly and reasonably possible in 2022,’ she said.
Ms. Patel wrote to Baroness Heather Hallett in a letter. She said that she hoped the inquiry would bring comfort (to Ms. Sturgess and other affected families) by providing more information about the circumstances surrounding Ms. Sturgess’ death as well as acknowledging the courage and resilience of all those who replied.
Priti Patel (right), confirmed last month that a public inquiry would be conducted to examine the Russian role in Dawn Sturgess’s death. Dawn Sturgess was poisoned unwittingly by Novichok, which was brought to Britain by Russian agents who were sent to Salisbury to assassinate Sergei Skripal.
Stan Sturgess was the father of Ms. Sturgess and expressed his delight at this development.
He declared, “We are happy for the decision.” The legal team worked hard on our behalf, and we hope to finally get closure in the near future.
Two Russians, Alexander Petrov, and Ruslan Borshirov were previously charged with conspiracy to murder in relation to the Skripals attack.
However, the men denied involvement in any way and spoke out to state television. They claimed they were just in Salisbury to take a guided tour of Salisbury Cathedral.
Russia denied involvement in the incident, and President Vladimir Putin claimed that both suspects were civilians and not military personnel.