The day we were blown up....
I recall it was a murky, damp hazy and unseasonably cool in the early morning of 7th July being a Thursday, in 2005.
I got onto my later train that day, on the London Underground system (LU, known colloquially as "the Tube") little knowing what I was to face.
I soon realized that the smoke from fires within the deep tunnels, which are up to 30 m below the surface, would have nowhere to go except the stations. The tunnels gave us a mere clearance of only 15 cm around the train. The deep tunnels are 3.5metres in diameter, which felt even smaller to me, like trying to push a sausage through a piece of macaroni!
The extreme explosion seemed to gain additional power and force, by being detonated in a confined space. The sparks and debris bounced and trickled it way along the steel line of the carriage, the bogey acting as an anchor, lay buckled and broken.
Silence for minutes...
I was deeply afraid to look around me after I became conscious again. It was about 10 minutes at most from the time of the sudden stopping and the plunge, being thrown forward – then nothing but a ping sound and blackness, deathly quiet, just a small sound of ringing in my ears.
There was silence for a few seconds.
Then, at first quite low and soft, terrible screaming from somewhere in the tunnel.
I heard my voice and other voices saying: "Don't panic, keep calm". I took a woman's hand and we struggled to stand. Disoriented, unable to see or breather, almost as if we'd been plunged into the bowels of the earth, I scrambled to my feet.
I felt a warm sponging feeling in my face and in my mouth. I clenched my teeth and realised that they were not where they should be. Where were they then? I felt feverishly with my tongue, found the bottom teeth. I took all my strength left in my face and squashed them back into place.
Using the light from my opened flip-top mobile phone handset, we were just able to make out a feint outline of each other.
Time to escape ...
Those of us who could still walk, moved forward in single file. The driver forced open his door, pulled out the steel stairs from a hidden place under the train – our escape stairs, ready and waiting.
I notice as I looked through my teary eyes, an enhanced and increased type of power. My so-called 'compartment injuries' were more from within. Some of us in my carriage were badly affected by inhalation of smoke and dust, hence my left lung tumors, called “the little passenger”
Have a look at an interview on the day at the memorial to those that lost their lives on:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8141155.stm
A survivor of the London bombings, who lives in Ashford, is disappointed that she and fellow survivors may not get to attend the unveiling of a memorial on Tuesday July 7, the fourth anniversary of the terror attack.
Beverli Rhodes, 47, of Kennington, has written to the government asking why, as a survivor, she has not been invited.
The Assistance Centre, set up for those affected by the London bombings, has posted a message which reads:
"Ticket numbers for the opening event are limited due to the site topography and therefore priority for attendance has been given to the families of those who died."
Ms Rhodes has today (Thursday) written to the Department of Culture Media and Sport, which is organising next week’s event, asking:
"Are the survivors not part of the unveiling?
"Is it only for the family members of the bereaved?
"When are the survivors getting access to the permanent memorial?
"Many survivors can’t stand for any great length of time, will they be allocated seating?
"Why have many of us not heard from the Home Office as we usually do each year?"
Ms Rhodes suffered facial injuries in the bomb attack on a tube train under Russell Square. She continues to require treatment for her injuries and has set up a campaign group for victims of terrorism, the Survivors Coalition Foundation.
The bombings on July 7 2005 were a series of coordinated suicide bomb attacks carried out by British fundamentalist Muslims on London's public transport system during the morning rush hour.
Just before 9am, three bombs exploded within 50 seconds of each other on three London Undergroound trains.
A fourth bomb exploded on a bus nearly an hour later in Tavistock Square. The bombings killed 52 people, the four suicide bombers and injured 700.
Thursday, July 02 2009
Tomorrow see's the dawn of the 4th anniversary of the tragic 7th July London bombings.
A blessing ceremony will be held in Ashford at sundown, lead by Shaman Beverli Rhodes.
Update:
The blessing ceremony was very calm and quite serene. At the end of the
blessings and prayers a sign of acceptance was requested.With the request at the Buddha shrine in our sacred garden many white cabbage butterflies and 5 bumblebees flew towards the statues. They danced around those giving prayers and sending blessings. We took that to be the sign and felt a great sense of fulfillment....
Michael Jackson will be finally be laid to rest. We wish him the stillness of the soul that he may heal from his many wounds, emotional, spiritual and physical. Rest in absolute peace remembered in all of our prayers and healing lists, blessed be. A Shamanic ritual will be performed to coincide with his funeral. Rest in peace Michael Jackson.
Anyone wishing to be part of the blessings ritual please send me a note.
