The Foreign Office Minister has been hailed a “hero MP” after trying to save the life of the police officer killed in the Westminster terror attack.

Tobias Ellwood - who was elected Chairman of the Hertfordshire South West Conservative Association for a year in 1998 - gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and attempted to stem the flow of blood amid the carnage in New Palace Yard near the entrance to Westminster Hall.

SEE ALSO: Watford MP Richard Harrington was finishing speech on pensions bill when shots were fired in Westminster

His friend of 20 years, Conservative MP Adam Afriyie, said he saw his colleague heading towards the scene despite police instructions to move to safety.

It is not the first time Mr Ellwood's life has been touched by an atrocity as his brother Jonathan was killed in the 2002 Bali bombing.

The 50-year-old politician, who was pictured with blood on his face and clothes as he battled to help the police officer, was quoted by The Sun as saying the Westminster incident was a "huge tragedy".

"I am a witness, I was the last one on the scene before he died so I am not allowed to say anything. Number 10 has been in touch so I'll get into trouble.

"It is now murder, I was on the scene and as soon as I realised what was going on I headed towards it. It is a huge tragedy, it really is.

"I tried to stem the flow of blood and give mouth to mouth while waiting for the medics to arrive but he had lost too much blood. He had multiple wounds, under the arm and in the back.

"As I understand it the attacker has also died.I'm not allowed to say anything, I'll get into trouble. It's very sad."

Eyewitness Hugh Dickinson, a 21-year-old student from High Wycombe, posted a picture of Mr Ellwood on Twitter, showing the minister bleeding, but saying "he looked to be fine".

The Bournemouth East MP is Foreign Office Minister, with the Middle East, Africa and counter terrorism listed among the areas within his brief.

His actions drew praise from across the political spectrum.

His Tory colleague Ben Howlett, tweeted: "Tobias Ellwood is an absolute hero for what he did to help the policeman this afternoon!"

Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: "He was utterly heroic, pure and simple. He went above and beyond and did all he could to save a police officer."

Jeremy Corbyn also added to the cross-party praise for Mr Ellwood.

"Our thanks and gratitude go to the police and emergency services who responded so bravely, and to those - including the MP Tobias Ellwood - who went to the aid of the injured and dying.

"This was not only an attack on innocent people. It was also an attack on our democracy. But I know that Londoners and people across the country will stand together in defence of our values and diversity," said the Labour leader.

Mr Ellwood is not a man who shies away from confrontation or danger.

In 2008, he tackled up to 10 teenagers urinating in an elderly woman's garden on an estate in his Bournemouth constituency.

A year later, he was hospitalised after confronting a gang of youths in an attempt to stop them playing a ball game in Boscombe high street. He was punched in the head and suffered temporary hearing damage.

In 2010, he was threatened with arrest by the police outside the Commons after confronting them over an anti-war protestor.

Born in New York City to British parents, the Tory MP was educated at schools in Bonn and Vienna and gained degrees at Loughborough University and the Cass Business School at City University in London.

After university, Mr Ellwood served in the Army with the Royal Green Jackets, reaching the rank of captain. After resigning his commission he became a researcher for Tom King, the former Conservative Defence Secretary.

Before entering Parliament, he was a senior business manager with the London Stock Exchange.

A former Hertfordshire councillor, he failed to win a Manchester seat in 2001 but succeeded in Bournemouth East four years later.

A strong supporter of David Cameron’s leadership campaign, he was appointed an Opposition whip and then was promoted to the role as Shadow Culture Minister in 2007.

After the Coalition Government was formed in 2010, he served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to three Cabinet ministers, Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, David Lidington, the Europe Minister, and Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, before becoming a junior minister at the Foreign Office.