An Australian police officer who was in Christchurch for a sniper conference told the coronial inquest into the March 15 mosque attacks that when news broke of the shooting, he thought it was a training exercise.
He deployed to the Linwood mosque with specialist paramedics, who he says pulled over on the way and needed convincing to go to the scene.
On Monday, the first paramedic to attend the Linwood mosque relived the day.
He arrived, but not in an ambulance, to assess the injured inside the mosque.
"A police officer came up to us with a two-year-old child who had been shot," paramedic Dale Muller told the inquest.
As they waited for an ambulance he saw an older man dying.
"Because of his very poor state, unfortunately I did not think he'd survive," Muller said.
An Australian tactical police officer in Christchurch on a sniper course heard news of the terror attack.
"He told us that there was an active shooter incident at a mosque. Initially I thought this was another training scenario," the Australian officer told the inquest.
The Australian officer arrived at the Linwood mosque.
"I went inside and saw bodies and people everywhere," he said.
He was wearing civilian clothes and a full-face black balaclava.
"I pulled my balaclava down to expose my face so that it would not be confronting to people who were in there," he said.
The Australian officer and local paramedic travelled to the Linwood mosque together in a St John vehicle. The inquest heard on the way there they pulled over for six-and-a-half minutes, which delayed getting the first paramedics to the injured.
"Trying to convince the St Johns people to go to the scene," the Australian officer said.
"I felt like we needed to be on ground to be able to provide medical assistance and stop the killing."
But Muller said St John had no clear information and didn't know if offenders were still there.
"I am not critical of police. This series of attacks was extraordinary," he said.
He ended up inside the mosque still unsure if the scene was safe, but broke St John protocol to give first aid.
"I believe police, St John and the staff of the medical centre all worked hard to achieve the best we could for the victims of this evil attack. And again, I wish to express my sympathies to the families of the shahid and the survivors," Muller said.
