20 YEARS OF PRIDE OF BRITAIN
ON Thursday July 7, 2005, London came under attack as suicide bombers killed 52 innocent people and injured hundreds of others.
There were blasts on underground trains near Liverpool Street and Edgware Road stations, and a third on a train between King’s Cross and Russell Square. A fourth bomb exploded on the top deck of a No26 bus in Tavistock Square.
It was 56 minutes of devastation that left more than 700 people injured.
The attack plunged the city into chaos. But thanks to the quick response of police, firefighters, paramedics, transport workers and hospital staff, a well-rehearsed plan was put into place.
Within minutes of the first blast, London hospitals were on high alert. Beds were cleared and staff called in. The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel took in the first 208 patients.
Confronted with horrific scenes, the emergency services responded with dignity and professionalism, tending to the walking
wounded and dealing with the dead and seriously injured.
Gill Hicks, who had been travelling on the Piccadilly Line, lost both her legs. She was pulled from the wreckage by PC Andy Maxwell.
She said she had an “indescribable bond” with her rescuers, adding: “How do you say thank you to someone who saves your life?”
Transport staff returned to the Underground to maintain some degree of normality, but the
hard work continued for months. Recovery teams worked in horrendous conditions to gather victims’ remains, with temperatures soaring above 37.7C.
Prime Minister Tony Blair, said: “The whole country should be very, very proud of them.”
And the whole country was. All of those involved in the rescue effort were honoured, with each receiving the Beyond the Call of Duty award at the 2005 Pride of Britain Awards.