On the 20th anniversary of the devastating London 7/7 terrorist attacks, survivors, families of victims, and the wider community gathered to remember the lives lost and reflect on the enduring impact of that tragic day. The coordinated suicide bombings on July 7, 2005, targeted London's transport network during the morning rush hour, killing 52 people and injuring more than 700. As the city honors the memory of those affected, stories of survival, loss, resilience, and hope continue to resonate two decades later.
Among the survivors is Australian Gill Hicks, who was the last person rescued from the wreckage of a bomb blast on a London Underground train between King’s Cross and Russell Square. Severely injured, her hospital identification wristband read "One unknown — estimated female," underscoring the gravity of her condition. At 37, Hicks was working as the head curator at the Design Council in London when the attack occurred. She recalls using her scarf as a tourniquet around what remained of her legs to stem the bleeding while awaiting help. “My life was saved as ‘one unknown,’ and it didn’t matter if I was Gill Hicks or who I was,” she told ABC News. “The efforts that people went to, to give their all to save this ‘one unknown,’ that’s shaped me.”
Despite living with two prosthetic legs, intense pain, and hearing loss, Hicks finds strength in her family, friends, and peace advocacy work. She describes the passage of time not as a healer but as a source of distance from the immediate trauma. “I don’t feel that I’ve been healed. My legs haven’t grown back,” she said. Hicks has channeled her experience into art and performance, touring her multi-award-winning show, Still Alive (And Kicking)!, which explores the wonder of knowing life through facing death. She considers her upcoming London performance at Wilton’s Music Hall, attended by first responders who saved her life, as the “performance of a lifetime.”
Her bond with rescuers like paramedic Tracy Russell is profound and lifelong. “We’re not defined by the July 7 bombings, but by our shared humanity, by our incredible connection,” Hicks said. Over the past 20 years, she has become a motivational speaker, author, artist, and peace advocate, while also embracing her roles as partner and mother. Still, she feels there is much more to accomplish. “I haven’t had enough time to do all the things I want to do to make the impact I want to make, to leave the footprint that I want to leave.”
Another survivor, Ben Thwaites from Crowthorne, was traveling on the Tube near Edgware Road when a bomb detonated on a passing Circle Line train. The explosion tore open the side and bottom of the carriage, killing six people at that station alone. Thwaites was trapped underground for 10 to 15 minutes amid chaos and darkness. He helped by providing makeshift tourniquets from ties and belts and was eventually sent to seek assistance. However, emergency services could not enter the tunnel without clearance, and he was told by a policeman simply to “go home.”
Thwaites recounted the harrowing moments after the blast, describing the eerie silence and the sight of severely injured passengers. “The people that were injured were hurt so badly they weren’t even screaming. And the people that were more seriously injured were already dead.” The trauma led him to avoid London for a year, with the Tube being the hardest place to return to. Flashbacks and nightmares persisted, triggered by everyday sounds. Yet, he resolved to reclaim his life, refusing to be defined by the attack. Returning to Edgware Road Station in 2025, he noted the area looked almost unchanged. “It shows that London didn’t change. I think the purpose of the bombings was to tear London apart. But it did exactly the opposite.”
For families of victims, the wounds remain raw. Rob Webb, whose sister Laura Webb was killed at Edgware Road, shared his enduring anger and grief. Laura, 29, was a PA based in Paddington and one of six who died at Edgware Road station. Rob described 7/7 as “an attack on all of us” and emphasized the importance of remembrance and vigilance against terrorism. Despite his Christian upbringing, he admitted, “I have not been able to forgive, not just the man who killed my sister but any of the other bombers.”
The coordinated bombings involved three underground explosions at Edgware Road, Aldgate, and Russell Square, followed by a fourth on a double-decker bus near Tavistock Square. Dr. Andrew Dearden, a GP attending a meeting at the British Medical Association headquarters at Tavistock Square, witnessed the bus explosion and helped treat the injured alongside other doctors. He described the scene as “six months of A&E in about three hours,” overwhelmed by the sheer number and severity of injuries. Dearden urged remembrance not only of the tragedy but also of the heroic efforts of emergency responders and medical staff who risked their lives that day.
Beyond personal stories of survival and loss, the legacy of the 7/7 bombings includes numerous memorial projects around the world that honor victims by fostering hope and positive change. In Bhubaneswar, India, the Miriam Hyman Children’s Eye Care Centre was established in 2008, funded by the family and donations in memory of Miriam Hyman, a 31-year-old victim. The clinic now serves approximately 3,000 children monthly, performing hundreds of eye surgeries, many free of charge, and has made significant strides in combating childhood blindness in the region.
Similarly, Fiona Stevenson’s family set up a swimming program in Belize after she was killed in the Aldgate explosion. The initiative has taught thousands of children to swim and trained hundreds of young adults as lifeguards and instructors, potentially saving countless lives. Other memorials include funds supporting children’s orphanages in Cambodia and Vietnam in memory of Michael Matsushita, a New Yorker who died at Russell Square, and bursaries at Kingston University honoring Philip Russell, a financial manager killed in the bus bombing, which have helped students pursue overseas projects.
Closer to home, Great Ormond Street Hospital treated adult casualties for the first time since World War II on 7/7 and honors two staff members who died in the attacks with a tranquil garden space. Educational bursaries and hospice units have also been established in memory of victims, reflecting the families’ commitment to turning grief into lasting positive impact.
Esther Hyman, Miriam’s sister, reflected on the emotional toll of these efforts, describing the first decade after her sister’s death as “very effortful” and a period of suppressed grief channeled into constructive work. She and her mother campaign for social cohesion to be explicitly included in the national curriculum, hoping to prevent future tragedies born from division. With the clinic well established, they may soon wind down the Miriam Hyman Memorial Trust, satisfied with their achievements but aware of the ongoing need for vigilance and compassion.
As London marks 20 years since the 7/7 bombings, the stories of survivors, families, and responders reveal a tapestry of pain, resilience, and hope. From the harrowing moments underground to the enduring bonds forged in crisis, and from personal loss to community healing, the legacy of that day continues to shape lives. The city’s refusal to be torn apart stands as a testament to human strength and unity in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
