Margaret Lerhe was making her way to work at Elisabeth-Bruyere Hospital near Parliament Hill on Wednesday morning when shots rang out.

Lerhe, who was crossing the street just metres from the National War Memorial, first thought she was in the midst of a military drill.

“It was very clear it was a gun,” said Lerhe, who spotted the shooter in a “firing position.”

As a soldier at the memorial called out for help, Lerhe and other bystanders rushed over to Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who lay mortally wounded.

Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Lerhe described the chaotic moments that followed, as she and strangers came together to try to save the fallen soldier.

Under the direction of one of Cirillo’s comrades, Lerhe began to apply pressure to his gunshot wounds to help stop the flow of blood.

Another woman also tending to Cirillo was trying to console him, Lehre recalled.

“She stepped in to do chest compressions. She was truly amazing,” Lehre said.

“Everybody was working together and trying to save this young man’s life.”

Despite their efforts, the 24-year-old reservist succumbed to his injuries.

“He clearly was a very handsome, fun-loving guy, a father,” Lehre said, her voice breaking. “I find that very sad.

"I just find it really sad that our military put their lives on the line for us. I do find that really tragic.”

Lehre, who comes from a military family, said she doesn’t consider what she did an act of heroism, but what “you should do” in a time of crisis. With a shooter on the loose, Lehre said the inherent danger she and others were rushing toward never crossed her mind.

“When you’re trained as nurse, that’s your job to help and to pitch in under all different kinds of circumstances,” Lehre said. “You step up.”

Despite the actions of those who tried to help, Lehre said she was upset by the number of bystanders taking photos of Cirillo as he lay dying.

“I have to say that was probably one of the things that upsets me the most,” she said. “I don’t understand taking photos of crises like this. That’s really what I’m trying to deal with right now.”