‘Help we’ve been tied up’: UK crossbow murder victim Hannah Hunt’s frantic plea to help save family

One of the daughters of BBC racing broadcaster John Hunt was able to send a desperate text message pleading for someone to call 999 – before she died from crossbow bolt injuries, an inquest heard.

Terrified Hannah Hunt, 28, managed to explain that she and sister Louise, 25, and mother Carol, 61, were ‘tied up’ at the family home.

The chilling message begged the unnamed recipient to call the police, saying the attacker was still in their house in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9.

But Hannah was then able to call the police herself, reporting she had been shot, as had her mother and sister.

She gave her address before the shocking call cut out, Hertfordshire Coroner’s Court heard.

When officers arrived, they found her still alive in the main doorway, with a crossbow bolt in her chest, senior coroner Geoffrey Sullivan heard.

As they turned to the next room, they found Carol and Louise already dead.

A post-mortem examination found that Carol died from stab wounds to her chest and abdomen, while her two daughters were killed by crossbow bolt injuries to their chests, the inquest was told.

Following a huge manhunt, Louise’s ex-boyfriend Kyle Clifford, 26, was arrested on suspicion of three counts of murder.

Police, however, have still not been able to question the suspect as he remains in hospital with self-inflicted wounds.

The inquest heard that local police had been alerted by Met call handers, who had been contacted by the recipient of Hannah’s initial text message.

Hannah then rang 999 herself at 6.58pm, telling emergency services that she and her mother and sister had been shot in Ashlyn Close. She told police the suspect’s name and pleaded for an ambulance before the phone line cut out, the inquest heard.

Mr Sullivan adjourned the inquests until criminal proceedings have concluded, as Hertfordshire Police confirmed that Clifford continues to receive treatment in hospital while he is under arrest.

Investigators will have to wait until medical staff decide that the triple murder suspect is well enough to be questioned.

Clifford was found almost 24 hours after the three victims were discovered, with what were believed to be self-inflicted injuries in Lavender Hills cemetery near the Hilly Fields area of Enfield, north London – near to his home.

The former soldier and security guard was rushed to hospital after allegedly shooting himself with a crossbow bolt.

The time limit on how long officers have to grill Clifford will only start ticking down once they formally begin to question him.

Ever since the three horrific killings, tributes and messages of support have flooded in for Mr Hunt and his oldest, and only remaining

daughter Amy.

Paying tribute to the three victims, a statement from BBC racing commentator Mr Hunt and Amy previously said: ‘The devastation that we are experiencing cannot be put into words.

‘‘We would like to thank people for their kind messages and for the support we have received in recent days. These have provided great comfort to us for which we are very grateful.’’

‘‘As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult time for us, and we need time and space to come to terms with what has happened and start the grieving process,’’ the pair added.

‘‘While this is happening, we would ask that our privacy and that of our wider family and relations be respected at this time.’’

Thank you.