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7 July inquest: Injured survivor helped two passengers | 7 July inquest: Injured survivor helped two passengers |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A survivor of the Russell Square bomb on 7 July 2005 has told how he helped two fellow Tube passengers to safety. | A survivor of the Russell Square bomb on 7 July 2005 has told how he helped two fellow Tube passengers to safety. |
Jude Onyeze, who suffered a head injury in the explosion, walked the length of the track from near King's Cross to Russell Square, supporting another man who had lost a leg, the coroner heard. | Jude Onyeze, who suffered a head injury in the explosion, walked the length of the track from near King's Cross to Russell Square, supporting another man who had lost a leg, the coroner heard. |
Once at Russell Square, Mr Onyeze turned around and went back down the track to help a second passenger. | Once at Russell Square, Mr Onyeze turned around and went back down the track to help a second passenger. |
Twenty-six people died in the attack by suicide bomber Germaine Lindsay. | Twenty-six people died in the attack by suicide bomber Germaine Lindsay. |
Inquests being held at the High Court are examining the deaths of the 52 people who were killed by suicide bombers on three Tube trains and a bus. | Inquests being held at the High Court are examining the deaths of the 52 people who were killed by suicide bombers on three Tube trains and a bus. |
Mr Onyeze, a London Underground signal operator, carried the second person along the tunnel on his back. | |
He told the inquests he wanted to go back to help others, including a seriously injured woman, who were still trapped. | He told the inquests he wanted to go back to help others, including a seriously injured woman, who were still trapped. |
Book protection | Book protection |
But station staff said emergency services had been alerted, and warned him against going back to the wrecked Piccadilly Line carriage. | |
Lilian Ajayi, a fellow survivor, described scenes of the injured being piled up "like a laundry basket". | Lilian Ajayi, a fellow survivor, described scenes of the injured being piled up "like a laundry basket". |
She said the book she was reading had protected her glasses, and she had given up her seat for another passenger before the bomb exploded. That passenger was seriously injured. | She said the book she was reading had protected her glasses, and she had given up her seat for another passenger before the bomb exploded. That passenger was seriously injured. |
"I remember I was meant to sit in that seat and I gave it up," she told the inquest. | "I remember I was meant to sit in that seat and I gave it up," she told the inquest. |
Ms Ajayi said that when she reached the safety of the Russell Square platform her first concern was to let her work colleagues know she was running late. Staff there directed her to an office where she was able to call them. | Ms Ajayi said that when she reached the safety of the Russell Square platform her first concern was to let her work colleagues know she was running late. Staff there directed her to an office where she was able to call them. |
Loud bang | Loud bang |
Another passenger, Olawale Akerele, described the moment the bomb detonated. | Another passenger, Olawale Akerele, described the moment the bomb detonated. |
"There was a loud, loud bang. It felt like I was being lifted off the seat. It almost felt like you were being drowned. Then I just got a whack to my head. | "There was a loud, loud bang. It felt like I was being lifted off the seat. It almost felt like you were being drowned. Then I just got a whack to my head. |
"I felt like I was between worlds," he told the inquests. | "I felt like I was between worlds," he told the inquests. |
He said his ear had been perforated - meaning he could hear only a fuzzy noise - and it was pitch black. | He said his ear had been perforated - meaning he could hear only a fuzzy noise - and it was pitch black. |
"I felt my face, just felt liquid going down so I assumed I had been injured. It didn't hurt." | "I felt my face, just felt liquid going down so I assumed I had been injured. It didn't hurt." |
He said he was one of the last people to arrive at Russell Square Tube station because there were bodies slumped against his legs, making it impossible for him to free himself. | |
Mr Akerele needed eight stitches over his eye, suffered damage to his spine and hip, and underwent counselling. | Mr Akerele needed eight stitches over his eye, suffered damage to his spine and hip, and underwent counselling. |
'Adrenalin and fear' | |
David Boyce, a London Underground staff member, was the first to arrive at the scene of the bomb blast, having entered the tunnel after passengers at Russell Square station told him they had heard a loud bang. | |
He returned twice in the course of the morning, providing a first aid kit and bottled water and support for injured passengers in the damaged carriage. | |
"I was running on adrenalin and fear. I was just trying to do the best I can," he told the inquests. | |
Six months later, he was awarded an MBE for his role on the day, the inquests heard. | |
He described how he jumped down on to the track after reports of a bang. | |
"I couldn't see anything untoward but something just didn't quite feel right," he said. | |
"As I was looking down the tunnel, I could see a dim torch coming around the bend." | |
Between 50 and 70 people were coming towards him along the tunnel. | |
He walked on towards the carriages to find windows smashed, doors buckled and dead bodies, the court heard. | |
He found shoes for those who had lost theirs in the blast, made the injured comfortable and wrapped his high-visibility jacket around one man's leg to make a tourniquet. |