Crossbow sufferer was discovered alive in doorway with deadly bolt accidents

The wife of a Sky and BBC racing broadcaster John Hunt died from stab wounds and their two daughters died from crossbow bolt injuries, an inquest has heard, as details of a heartbreaking text by one of the victims emerge. 

Carol Hunt, 61, Hannah Hunt, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, were fatally injured at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on July 9.

Hertfordshire Coroner’s Court heard Hannah Hunt texted someone telling them she had been ‘tied up’ at the family home.

The text asked the unnamed member of the public to call the police, telling them the person responsible was at the house, a coroner’s officer told the short hearing.

Ms Hunt was then able to call the police, reporting that she had been shot, as had her mother and sister. She gave her address before the call cut out, the hearing was told.

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

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

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

Recalling the events of that tragic day, Hertfordshire Coroner’s Court heard that police had received a re-directed call from the Metropolitan Police alerting them to the incident.

A member of the public had called the Met telling call handlers they had received a text from Hannah telling them to call the police as she, as well as her mother and sister, had been tied up.

Hannah then rang 999 herself, telling emergency services that herself and her mother and sister had been shot. She told police the name of the person responsible and requested an ambulance before the phone line cut out, the inquest heard.

Upon arrival, emergency services found Hannah still alive in the doorway ‘shot through the chest with a crossbow bolt’ that remained in her chest.

When they turned to the adjacent room, Carol and Louise were found with injuries. Both were dead on arrival, the court heard.

The women’s bodies were identified Princess Alexandra Hospital. A postmortem found that Carol died from stab wounds to her chest and abdomen.

The two daughters died from a 1a cross bolt injury to the chest, the inquest heard.

This morning lead coroner Mr Geoffery Sullivan adjourned the inquests until criminal proceedings have concluded.

It comes as Hertfordshire Police confirmed this morning that there were no updates in the case as Clifford continues to receive treatment in hospital while under arrest.

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

A huge manhunt was launched on July 9 for Clifford after the three women’s bodies were found in their home on Ashlyn Close.

He was found just under 24 hours later with what were believed to be self-inflicted injuries in Lavender Hills cemetery near the Hilly Fields area of Enfield, north London – near to where he is from.

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 tragic deaths of the three women, 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, 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.

‘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.’

In a further statement read to Sky Sports Racing viewers by his colleague Matt Chapman, Mr Hunt paid tribute to his ‘magnificently inspirational’ surviving daughter.

He said: ‘Notwithstanding the horrid evil that’s swept through our lives, wreaking devastation on an unimaginable scale, the counter to that has been the breathtaking messages of support, some of which are still to be read.

‘Amy, my eldest daughter, has been magnificently inspirational with her control and support for me, which I am trying, trying so hard, to replicate.

‘Every message has felt so important, the same as a reassuring hug. We know people are worried about us. We will get through this.’

Mr Chapman added that a fundraiser set up for Mr Hunt and his family – which has raised over £100,000 – will go to Amy. 

At a vigil held for the Hunt family by friends and loved ones at St James’ Church in Bushey more tributes were paid to the three women.

Lea Holloway, 60, a childhood friend of Carol Hunt, described her as a ‘beautiful person’.

She said: ‘This is the stuff nightmares are made of. They were a lovely family and (the daughters) were lovely girls.

‘They were making their way through life and their lives have been taken too soon. It’s the thing of nightmares. I feel for their eldest daughter and John (Hunt). I can’t imagine what it would be like.’

After being joined by two other close friends, Dionne Smith, 58, and Abigail Phillips, 58, the trio told reporters: ‘We were a four, and now there’s only three. It doesn’t seem real. We are together in grief.’

Detective Superintendent Rob Hall, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, said at the time: ‘Our thoughts remain with the victims’ family at this tragic time.

‘The investigation is moving at pace and as a result, we have now arrested a man. Inquiries are continuing at this time.’