Gill Hicks at London bombings services

Ten years after losing her legs in the 2005 London bombings, Australian Gill Hicks has joined other survivors and bereaved families to remember the dead.

London bombings survivor Gill Hicks.

London bombings survivor Gill Hicks has joined bereaved relatives and royalty at a memorial service. (AAP)

London bombings survivor Gill Hicks has joined bereaved relatives and royalty to remember those killed in the terror attacks that made her become a tireless campaigner against violent extremism.

The Australian was in London on Tuesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the July 7, 2005 bombings in which 52 innocent people died in blasts on three Underground trains and a double-decker bus.

Ms Hicks, who lost both her legs in one of the tube blasts, on Tuesday morning laid red roses at Russell Square station where rescuers rushed to save her life.

"I'm feeling a lot of grief for those who didn't come out alive and feeling very fortunate that I survived," she told AAP outside the bustling station where extra police were stationed on Tuesday.

The 46-year-old, who now lives in Adelaide, said she always returns to the station when she visits London.

"It's a lovely station. It's where my life was saved, so I can't hold any negative sense towards it.

"Everyone did so much for me that day and that happened here. It's a special place."

After attending a memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral, Ms Hicks joined Prince William in the front row of a second service in Hyde Park at the memorial to the victims of the bombings.

She said it was a moving sight to see those who lost loved ones walk to place yellow Gerberas at the 52 stainless steel columns that make up the monument to those who died.

"A lot of us have formed a very strong bond with each other and we do whatever it takes to be there for each other," Ms Hicks said of the friendships she had formed with bereaved relatives and fellow survivors.

The bombings prompted her to become a campaigner against violent extremism and to set up the charity Making a Difference (MAD) For Peace.

"Deterring anyone from being a violent extremist is not something that I could ever have imagined I would have done before," she said.

Ongoing terror attacks around the world meant it was "a continuous journey".

Ms Hicks said Prince William told her he had followed her work and was thrilled she now had a daughter, two-year-old Amelie.

On Monday, Ms Hicks reconnected with one of her rescuers, tearfully hugging Police Constable Andy Maxwell who helped stretcher her out from the bombed train to an ambulance.

"These people are like family to me, that's how special they are," she said of her rescuers.


Share

3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world