Ex-firefighter and doctor among British victims in Sri Lanka

A retired firefighter and his doctor wife are among the British victims of the Sri Lanka terror attacks.

Bill Harrop and Sally Bradley were on holiday in the country when a series of bombs were detonated at eight locations, including hotels and churches, on Easter Sunday.

Among the targets was the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, where the couple were staying.

They are among at least eight British victims of the attacks, which claimed a total of 310 lives.

Dave Keelan, assistant county fire officer at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said news of his former colleague’s death was “devastating”.

He added: “Bill served here for 30 years, retiring at the end of 2012.

“He was a much loved and respected colleague and friend. He will be greatly missed.”

Mr Harrop’s wife Sally Bradley was a doctor from Manchester.

In a statement, her family said she was a “kind, loyal and hardworking woman who lived for adventure”.

They added: “She was the personification of joy that life could bring if you approached it with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.”

Ms Bradley began her career as a GP in Salford before moving on to become a director of public health in Manchester and then the medical director of Pennine Acute NHS Trust, before travelling to Australia with her husband where she continued to practice medicine.

The statement said: “Their aim was always to experience life to the fullest.

“Kindred spirits, they travelled the world together, safe in each other’s arms and with smiles across their faces.

“They were the heartbeat of their families and the inspiration in their lives. They will be forever sorely missed, but never forgotten.”

Ms Bradley’s brother Lord Keith Bradley said: “I have lost a sister, who was not only an inspiration to me, but someone that was respected and loved across Greater Manchester.

“Over the last 24 hours I have been inundated with beautiful tributes to a remarkable and wondrous woman.

“She was truly a bright light in many people’s lives. The light may have been cruelly distinguished for no reason or justification, but she will always live in our hearts and the memories she provided will be forever cherished. I, and my family, will miss her more than words can articulate.”

Mr Harrop and Ms Bradley are the fourth and fifth British victims to have been named.

Earlier on Monday, lawyer Ben Nicholson confirmed the deaths of his “perfect wife” and “amazing” children, who were waiting for breakfast at the Shangri-La in the capital city of Colombo when the hotel was targeted.

He said wife Anita, 42, son Alex, 14, and daughter Annabel, 11, were sitting with him in the restaurant, and “mercifully, all three of them died instantly and with no pain or suffering”.

At least 30 foreigners are thought to have died in the attacks.

Emergency powers have come into force in Sri Lanka, allowing police and the military to detain and interrogate suspects without court orders.

Police are also investigating whether warnings of attacks were ignored or missed and the government has blocked all social media to “ease tensions”.

(c) Sky News 2019: Ex-firefighter and doctor among British victims in Sri Lanka