7/7 survivors speaks on 12th anniversary of atrocity 

The last survivor to be brought from the wreckage of the 7/7 London bombings says she hopes her incredible battle to rebuild her life can inspire victims of recent atrocities as she marked the 12th anniversary of the attacks today.

Four suicide bombers brought horror to the London Underground on July 7 2005, detonating explosives on three tube trains and a double-decker bus, killing 52 people.

Martine Wright was on a targeted train in Aldgate and lost both her legs and 80 per cent of the blood in her body before ten days in a coma.

She only narrowly survived because off-duty policewoman Elizabeth Kenworthy braved the wreckage and tied a tourniquet around her legs. Seven people died in her carriage.

She sent a message of hope to survivors of recent attacks on the anniversary of London bombings today

Martine Wright lost both of her legs in the 7/7 bombings but went on to become a Paralympian. She sent a message of hope to survivors of recent attacks on the anniversary of London bombings today

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick (centre) salutes after laying flowers during a service for the 12th anniversary

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick (centre) salutes after laying flowers during a service for the 12th anniversary

Police officers view the floral tributes placed at the memorial in Hyde Park to the victims of the terror attacks 12 years ago

Police officers view the floral tributes placed at the memorial in Hyde Park to the victims of the terror attacks 12 years ago

Policemen attended the memorial  as the work of emergency services in dealing with the bombings was remembered

Policemen attended the memorial as the work of emergency services in dealing with the bombings was remembered

There were emotion scenes today as Londoners remembered the horror unleashed by the attackers 12 years ago

There were emotion scenes today as Londoners remembered the horror unleashed by the attackers 12 years ago

Despite her terrible injuries, the now-44-year-old Ms Wright refused to be bowed, and, after ten months of surgery and rehabilitation, learned to adapt to living without her legs.

She then took up sitting volleyball after trying wheelchair tennis as a form of physiotherapy and was eventually selected to be a member of the British Paralympic team.

She has now written a book, called Unbroken, about her incredible battle back from what she calls the ‘black devastation’ of the bomb-ravaged train carriage, and hopes the book shows that she is ‘living proof that anything is possible’.

In words of advice to survivors of recent terror attacks in Manchester and London Bridge, she told the Daily Mirror: ‘My advice to survivors and grieving families would be; It’s such early days and you do feel like you’re never, ever going to get through it. You’re propelled into this world that you never dreamt you would be in.

‘But take all the love and support you can – whether it’s from family members, doctors or nurses. And believe that maybe one day something good will come from something so bad.’

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick brings her wreath to the memorial during the ceremony this morning

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick brings her wreath to the memorial during the ceremony this morning

London mayor Sadiq Khan was among the dignitaries at the 7/7 memorial in Hyde Park this morning

London mayor Sadiq Khan was among the dignitaries at the 7/7 memorial in Hyde Park this morning

Mr Khan laid flowers at the memorial after saying that the city's response to the attacks had 'inspired the world'

Mr Khan laid flowers at the memorial after saying that the city’s response to the attacks had ‘inspired the world’

Mr Khan's wreath had a note attached, which said: 'We must never forget those who lost their lives on 7/7'

Mr Khan’s wreath had a note attached, which said: ‘We must never forget those who lost their lives on 7/7’

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said the force remembered all of those who died in the 'terrible' attacks

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said the force remembered all of those who died in the ‘terrible’ attacks

Floral tributes placed at the memorial in Hyde Park to the victims of the terror attacks on the 12th anniversary of the bombings

Floral tributes placed at the memorial in Hyde Park to the victims of the terror attacks on the 12th anniversary of the bombings

A wreath-laying ceremony took in London today to mark 12 years since the bombings.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the victims of the July 7 attacks will never be forgotten and recalled how the city’s response ‘inspired the world’.

Mr Khan said Londoners ‘always pull together’, pointing out this has been evident again this year following the attacks in London Bridge, Westminster and Finsbury Park, as well as the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Mr Khan’s wreath had a note attached, which said: ‘We must never forget those who lost their lives on 7/7. We honour them again today and they will always remain in our hearts.’

He was followed by London Fire Brigade Commissioner Dany Cotton, London Underground managing director Mark Wild, and London Ambulance Service chief executive Garrett Emmerson.

Ms Wright was pulled from the wreckage of this tube train in Aldgate, east London, in which seven people died

Ms Wright was pulled from the wreckage of this tube train in Aldgate, east London, in which seven people died

Martine went through years of rehabilitation before competing in the Paralympics in the women's sitting volleyball

Martine went through years of rehabilitation before competing in the Paralympics in the women’s sitting volleyball

Four suicide bombers brought carnage to the London Underground, setting off bombs in four locations at the same time

Four suicide bombers brought carnage to the London Underground, setting off bombs in four locations at the same time

The last of the bombs to go off was on this bus in Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people, who were remembered today

The last of the bombs to go off was on this bus in Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people, who were remembered today

Representing the police were Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, City of London Police Commissioner Ian Dyson, and British Transport Police Chief Constable Paul Crowther, who saluted in unison after laying their wreaths.

Jennette Arnold, chairwoman of the London Assembly, and Peter John, deputy chairman of London Councils, also attended. 

Suicide bombers Mohammed Sidique Khan, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, Hasib Hussain, 18, and Jermaine Lindsay, 19, carried out the attack 12 years ago.

Travelling from Luton, they took a train to King’s Cross in London, hugged and separated to carry out the atrocities.

Within three minutes of 8.50am, Tanweer detonated his bomb at Aldgate, Khan set his device off at Edgware Road and Lindsay blew himself up between King’s Cross and Russell Square. Hussain detonated his device on a bus at Tavistock Square at 9.47am.

Unbroken, by Martine Wright, is published on July 13 by Simon & Schuster, priced £18.99. 

 

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