Colleagues pay heartfelt tribute to victims and heroes of 7/7 bombings

Colleagues from across NHS Blood and Transplant have paid tribute to the 52 people who lost their lives in the 7/7 London bombings and praised the courage of NHS staff and the selfless blood and tissue donors who helped save many others that day.

On the 20th anniversary of the devastating attacks, NHS Blood and Transplant is honouring the victims, survivors, and all those affected, while remembering the extraordinary response that followed.

4 coordinated explosions across London's transport network killed 52 people and injured more than 700 others.

Within just 30 minutes of the first bomb detonating at 8:49am on July, 7, 2005, blood donation colleagues - then known as the National Blood Service - began receiving emergency requests from hospitals.
Over the next 8 hours, 18 blue light deliveries were made to nine London hospitals. In total, 1,455 units of blood products were ordered by hospitals, and all were delivered.

25 patients required life-saving blood transfusions, including a child as young as 2 years old at the time. Many had sustained catastrophic injuries, such as amputations and crush wounds. On average, each patient received 13 units of red blood cells, with one patient receiving more than 50 units.

Andy Perry, was a Day Shift Supervisor at the time and was on duty that day. He vividly recalls the moment the first calls started coming in:

"What started out as just another normal day, quickly turned into a day you could never forget when just after 9am we started to hear reports that something had happened on the Tube but details were limited.

"Then the first phone call came through from a hospital to declare a major incident and a stream of others followed. We worked solidly throughout the day turning around the emergency orders for more blood coming in - while still processing all our usual daily deliveries.

"It was a surreal day, but everyone pulled together. As quickly as the delivery vehicles returned, we were re-loading and sending them back out again. By the end of the day we were all exhausted but also so proud of what had been achieved.

"That night I went home and just hugged my wife, thinking how many people would not have that privilege. Even after 20 years, the memories - and mix of emotions - about that day, still stay with me so vividly."

Meanwhile, colleagues working in tissue donation also began to prepare as it became clear that that many of those injured, and suffering from burn or blast injuries, would require vital grafts of donor skin, in the days and weeks that followed.

Lauren Roberts, a Tissue Bank Assistant, who was still fairly new to the organisation, having started in September 2004, explains:

"I had been working in the cleanrooms that day, and when I came out for a break, I was told a major incident had been declared. Everyone gathered in the tearoom as we watched the horror unfold on the news.

"Normally the tearoom was very noisy, but I just remember how quiet it was that day. There was another tissue bank based in Edgware, close to the station, and we were unsure if our colleagues were safe, as there were problems with the phones.

"The next few days were incredibly busy. A lot of my time following the incident was spent travelling the country to as many donors as possible and processing the skin grafts we knew would be needed. We then began sending the grafts out to hospitals.

"The day of 7/7 was the first time it really struck me about how much our work in the tissue bank can have an impact and it really highlighted how important tissue donation is. I'm sure that any families that had made the brave decision to donate would find comfort knowing it helped someone in a tragic situation such as the bombings."

This rapid response seen across both blood and tissue teams was only possible thanks to the generosity of donors who donated and ensured that vital supplies of blood and donor skin were available when needed.

Martine Wright, who lost 80% of her blood and both legs in the attacks, said:

"Thanks to people who give blood, the blood I needed was there for me. I've done so much since then: got married, had my son, competed at the Paralympics. None of that would have been possible without blood donors."

To mark the anniversary, members of NHS Blood and Transplant's executive team and staff who played crucial roles in the 7/7 response - including Andy and Lauren - will attend a special memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral as well as laying a wreath at the Hyde Park memorial.

Wendy Clark, Deputy Chief Executive, of NHS Blood and Transplant, says:

"20 years on from the horrifying events of 7/7, colleagues across NHS Blood and Transplant will be united as we come together to remember and honour all of those who tragically lost their lives or were injured.

"Hearing the first-hand recollections of colleagues who were involved in the phenomenal response that day, really brings home the crucial role that our colleagues and donors play in saving lives day in and day out, when hospitals and patients need us most.

"Thank you to all our donors and donor families who help ensure that we have the vital blood, organs and tissues available, when they are needed.

"Our thoughts are with all of those affected by the events of 7/7, everyone who lost their lives or whose lives were changed forever that day."