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markm
10-07-2005, 21:38
I've just seen another account of what happened by Badger Kitten. I wrote the following the morning after the events. I sent it to the BBC and then they asked me to appear on the news. Like Badger Kitten said, talking seemed to help.

Its now dark and that is when I get down. I'm not sure how to react or how other people are dealing with it. Maybe meeting people who were involved would help.

Like Badger Kitten I'm from Finsbury Park and I was on the first carriage. Badger Kitten if you want to get in touch please do.

I've left it unedited complete with grammer and spelling mistakes:


I was at the front of the first carriage of the Piccadilly Line train between Kings Cross and Russell Square and this is my story.

I got on the Piccadilly line at Finsbury park having just left a train leave because I hoped to get a seat on the seconds train. I don’t remember much between Finsbury park and Kings cross as nothing was out of the norm. I was reading my book, I still remember the page and words that I was reading when I heard the bang. Suddenly the train shook violently and everything went black, people were screaming in complete panic some were shouting (we are all going to die) glass was everywhere I you could not see a thing. Then I could smell burning and what smelt like burning rubber, I was terrified that there may be a fire. We were so confined that I suspected that if there had been a fire we would not have made it, it was so hard to breathe. I then though of my wife Sarah and how I wanted to say goodbye.

I felt my face and could feel blood. I did not no how bad it was, I felt all over my head, arms legs, I just wanted to know how bad I was. I could feel all my body parts and realised that I probably just had a head wound. I was fortunate.

I don’t know how long the panic or screaming lasted. Eventually the driver opened his door and tried to get a message out. No one could hear because of the shouting. I heard him say that we could not leave the train because he did not know if the current was off and that there was no communication. Meanwhile things calmed down a little but there was still crying and screaming. We still had difficulty breathing and I had blood all over me. We broke the window to try and get more air in but there was soot everywhere.

Finally we started moving in a line towards Russell Square. We were told that he still did not know if the current was off so to walk straight and avoid the lines. I walked straight, I had no idea how much time passed and I began to feel faint. I let on the guy in front of me in case I should fall, I found out later that his name was Neil. Thanks Neil.

Staff at Russell square helped us off the tracks and we walked up the steps to the main ticket office. I remember passing the lifts on the way. No way I was going to get in that I thought.

Being in the first carriage mean that I was one of the first 1-15 people at the top. I was confused and can’t really recall exactly what happed. It was at the ticket hall that I heard the rumour about a bomb. It had crossed my mind but really I was not sure. I heard that people behind me had to walk past/over bodies and people had missing limbs. I found this difficult to take.

One of the first things I did was ring my wife then my parents. Then work and family. Strangely I still thought that I would go to work after getting treatment.

I asked my wife to meet me at Russell Sq so she could take me to a hospital. She was in Oxford Street at the time and had not heard the details of what had happened.
Later she called me from Russell Sq and having been cleared by ambulance and police I went to meet her. I got to the corner of Woburn place and suddenly people started running past me. I had just started walking towards the bus bomb. I immediately turned around and was able to meet my wife in the park nr Russell Sq.

We then walked from Russell Sq to the Royal Free hospital. I knew that the central hospital would need space for people far mo injured than me so I made my way to the hospital where I was born. The walk took a long time, I was constantly stopped by concerned people asking If I was ok.

I was one of the first at the hospital. And I received great treatment and they seemed very well organised. I am just glad that I am ok.

I count myself very fortunate, I don’t not feel unlucky. I am VERY lucky. And I thank God that I am ok.
In my mind I keep going over the events: Bang! Shaking, Black, Smell, Glass, Fear, Screaming.
I will probably take some time to get over the shock of this but my thoughts go out to those people who died, their families and those that are severely injured.

Finally, we must remember not to let this get to us. Let them not change our lives. We must live as normal. These people are evil, not affiliated with any religion. Someone at the press conference said that Islamic and terrorists do not go together. Well said. This is time to pull together whatever you race, religion.

I wish now is that the G8 do something good.

BCB
10-07-2005, 21:42
Harrowing stuff,im glad your ok mate

ddraig
10-07-2005, 21:52
thanks mark, take care
and welcome to the boards, stick around :)

fat hamster
10-07-2005, 21:55
Welcome to the boards, markm, and thank you for sharing your story with us.

LilMissHissyFit
10-07-2005, 23:25
Grief, luacky isnt the word. You are right about not giving in but its easy for people who werent there to say. It takes guts for someone so directly affected to express those sentiments. Good for you

Wookey
10-07-2005, 23:32
Welcome to the boards mate. A unique first post, I think we'd all agree.

*Hobs nobs and tea all round*

Loki
10-07-2005, 23:32
Cheers for your story, markm. I can't imagine how I would have reacted in the same situation.

butterfly child
11-07-2005, 07:45
Bloody hell, Mark, got me crying again!

((((( mark and loved ones )))))

Glad you're safe xxx

frogwoman
11-07-2005, 09:19
((mark)) welcome to the boards mate. glad you're OK.

Badger Kitten
11-07-2005, 09:25
Mark!
Hooray, another survivor. I'm so glad you made it. I think I may have been stood behind you, there was a man reading a book very near me. Writing my story and reading other survivor accounts has really helped me, so I hope that it helps you too.


I'm going to PM you; perhaps we could go for a drink in Finsbury Park and catch up. Are you at work? I'm going to work tomorrow. I would have done today but I am absolutely exhausted and decided I needed to sleep as I have not been sleeping much at all.

All the best


badger

_angel_
11-07-2005, 09:29
That is quite some tale isn't it. Well done for keeping so calm, I'm not sure I could.

markm
11-07-2005, 09:30
Mark!
Hooray, another survivor. I'm so glad you made it. I think I may have been stood behind you, there was a man reading a book very near me. Writing my story and reading other survivor accounts has really helped me, so I hope that it helps you too.


I'm going to PM you; perhaps we could go for a drink in Finsbury Park and catch up. Are you at work? I'm going to work tomorrow. I would have done today but I am absolutely exhausted and decided I needed to sleep as I have not been sleeping much at all.

All the best


badger

I have a doctors appointment in an hour and then I'm going into work for a few hours. I'll be around all week in the afternoons early evening. Look forward to hearing from you.
Mark
PS I'm around for the next hour if you want a quick coffee?

Cid
11-07-2005, 09:31
Someone at the press conference said that Islamic and terrorists do not go together. Well said.

That was Brian Paddick - he used to post here, Britain's first gay commander or something iirc... wonderful guy.

Welcome to the boards, hope you're coping ok.

tribal_princess
11-07-2005, 09:32
awwww it could turn out to be love :)

oisleep
11-07-2005, 09:33
awwww it could turn out to be love :)

if you'd bothered to read the original post you'd find out that the original poster's happily married

LJo
11-07-2005, 09:34
Best wishes to both of you markm and Badger Kitten.

tribal_princess
11-07-2005, 09:35
I did read it but that was the other day so :p

and ye never know

oisleep
11-07-2005, 09:43
fair do's, no arguing here though, it's a nice thread :)

Badger Kitten
11-07-2005, 09:49
Mark and I have talked and worked out that we were in the same front carriage and feet away from each other and he was the man who got the message to me from the driver that we could escape out of the front and walk to Russell Square and to keep off the tracks. This was the message I passed down and several people behind me were thus able to follow Mark's instructions from the driver and get out. So, well done Mark and hooray that you were there and able to stay calm. We all helped each other. We are going to meet up later. The internet is great, isn't it? And urban 75 has proved invaluable.

Iemanja
11-07-2005, 09:53
(((markm))) and (((Badger Kitten)))

Thank you both so much for sharing your experiences with us! I hope you both fully recover, both physically and mentally too.

editor
11-07-2005, 09:54
So, well done Mark and hooray that you were there and able to stay calm. We all helped each other. We are going to meet up later. The internet is great, isn't it? And urban 75 has proved invaluable.Blimey. That is incredible.

There have been times when I wonder why I bother keeping this site going, but posts like this makes me feel privileged to have been of service.

LilMissHissyFit
11-07-2005, 09:59
That was Brian Paddick - he used to post here, Britain's first gay commander or something iirc... wonderful guy.

Welcome to the boards, hope you're coping ok.

He did? ???? wow He seems like a decent guy.Nicde to know he has the u75 membership tucked away somewhere

butterfly child
11-07-2005, 10:04
awwww it could turn out to be love :)

I think it's fairly common place for people that have gone through the same experiences to develop something akin to love.

I daresay if I did a bit of research, I could find some figures (bit like people who are kidnapped developing a relationship with their captors, innit) but I hate doing research at the best of times...

Badger Kitten
11-07-2005, 10:09
Enough with the Mills & Boon, thanks.

I am overwhelmingly in love with my partner of six years and he has been a mangificent source of comfort and love as usual. I am rather embarrassed for you people and for me and my partner and for Mark with this silly nonsense so please put a sock in it. Do you think that people who survived a train bomb and live locally might possibly want to grab a coffee for any reason than an sudden overwhelming need to get married? Cheers.

butterfly child
11-07-2005, 10:13
Enough with the Mills & Boon, thanks.

I am overwhelmingly in love with my partner of six years and he has been a mangificent source of comfort and love as usual. I am rather embarrassed for you people and for me and my partner and for Mark with this silly nonsense so please put a sock in it. Do you think that people who survived a train bomb and live locally might possibly want to grab a coffee for any reason than an sudden overwhelming need to get married? Cheers.

I just want to clarify, I wasn't suggesting for a minute you would want to fall in love with Mark!

I was just saying that it does actually happen. Which is why I said "something akin to love". It's not dissimilar to the doctor-patient thing either.

Louloubelle
11-07-2005, 11:30
Thanks for the very vivid and moving account markm

I'm pleased that you and Badger Kitten are going to meet up and I hope you both get to meet with other survivors

People experience all kinds of unexpected emotions after a taumatic event such as this and being able to talk about it with others who have shared the experience will be a very important part of healing and empowering yourselves.

People often develop strong bonds after an experience like this and I hope you will make supportive friendships among survivors as these can provide much support over difficult imtes .e.g. anniversaries of the event.

Best wishes to you both and to all who survived this terrible event.

ddraig
11-07-2005, 12:54
Blimey. That is incredible.

There have been times when I wonder why I bother keeping this site going, but posts like this makes me feel privileged to have been of service.


yes, cheers ed!

slaar
11-07-2005, 13:01
It also suggests just how many Londoners use Urban if two can have been in the same tube carriage at random.

sorearm
11-07-2005, 13:09
wow that was quite something to read... as well as badger's....

keep strong you guys and gals

*hugs all round*

Badger Kitten
11-07-2005, 15:08
Urban is now linked from the BBC, and I've namechecked the site twice in my blog. I've also described how Mark and I found we were on the sam etrain through this site.

Blog continues (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4670099.stm)

Donna Ferentes
11-07-2005, 15:12
It also suggests just how many Londoners use Urban if two can have been in the same tube carriage at random.Isn't it like the old mathematical puzzle about how many people you'd need to have in a room to have a 50% chance of two of them sharing a birthday?

sheothebudworths
11-07-2005, 15:26
His calm voice in the darkness was one of the things that kept me calm and gave me hope; I had been wondering if I would ever find out about him, and then he gets in touch!



Great stuff! :cool:


Best wishes to you both. :)

slaar
11-07-2005, 15:30
Isn't it like the old mathematical puzzle about how many people you'd need to have in a room to have a 50% chance of two of them sharing a birthday?
It could be, but London is a big place, and there are tens of thousands of railway carriages to choose from on an average day.

Seven, by the way.

Donna Ferentes
11-07-2005, 15:33
Twenty?

Back on topic - Mark mentions how he had blood everywhere but didn't know how badly he was cut,and it turned out to be a head wound. It's extraordinary how much blood you can lose from a small head wound. I once cut my head open when the broken pane from a glass door dropped on my when I was trying to crawl under it (it's a long story) and from the blood I thought I'd been practically beheaded. When the paramedics turned up the cut was so small they could barely find it.

butterfly child
11-07-2005, 15:39
Twenty?

Back on topic - Mark mentions how he had blood everywhere but didn't know how badly he was cut,and it turned out to be a head wound. It's extraordinary how much blood you can lose from a small head wound. I once cut my head open when the broken pane from a glass door dropped on my when I was trying to crawl under it (it's a long story) and from the blood I thought I'd been practically beheaded. When the paramedics turned up the cut was so small they could barely find it.

Yeah, when I split my head open, the bathroom looked like the scene from a splatter movie. I had seven stitches in that, I think.

slaar
11-07-2005, 15:40
It's 23:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_problem

...my maths classes were a long time ago.

Back on topic, I'd like to add that quite apart from the impact of the events, the quality of writing, and the ability to express the emotion of the event is superb from both of the survivors. I hope it's helping you, because I think it is certainly helping a lot of people to get over the shock of the event even if not experienced first hand.

Donna Ferentes
11-07-2005, 15:40
Yeah, when I split my head open, the bathroom looked like the scene from a splatter movie. I had seven stitches in that, I think.
Mmm, that would be a big wound though.

Donna Ferentes
11-07-2005, 15:41
I think it is certainly helping a lot of people to get over the shock of the event even if not experienced first hand.How many other people are starting to think through not so much whether it could have been them, but how many people they know who could easily have been there? It's bugging me a bit.

Citizen66
11-07-2005, 15:42
awwww it could turn out to be love :)

Or he could be one of those wierd stalker types that you read about in the papers :D
.

slaar
11-07-2005, 15:45
How many other people are starting to think through not so much whether it could have been them, but how many people they know who could easily have been there? It's bugging me a bit.
That was my immediate (first couple of days) reaction, but that's receding now, and hearing from people who were less than 10 yards from really quite a big bomb and yet survived and managed to get out is good.

fat hamster
11-07-2005, 16:36
It also suggests just how many Londoners use Urban if two can have been in the same tube carriage at random.
Yes, except that markm only joined Urban after reading Badger Kitten's blog on the Beeb...

editor
11-07-2005, 16:44
I think MarkM was on the front cover of the Independent today.

chegrimandi
13-07-2005, 11:11
yeh Mark I saw you in the Indy yesterday an' all.

:)