Two decades later, I still wake up at 2am screaming

Four Islamist suicide bombers killed 52 people and injured hundreds more in the 7/7 terror attack 20 years ago today. Dan Biddle, the most injured survivor, shares his haunting story and why he remains determined to fight for a public inquiry

- Karen Rockett

WHEN Dan Biddle woke up on the morning of July 7, 2005 with a splitting headache, he briefly considered calling in sick. But the construction project manager's conscientious decision to struggle into work was to have devastating consequences.

Aged just 26 and with his whole life ahead of him, Dan became the most seriously injured survivor of the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London. He lost both legs, an eye and his spleen and was deafened in one ear when terrorist Mohammad Sidique Khan, who he was standing next to, detonated a bomb on the Circle Line Tube train at Edgware Road at 8.51am.

It was one of four bombs set off in central London on public transport within the space of an hour, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds more.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of that horrendous day.

Now 46, Dan, like many others impacted by the bombings, plans to attend a special invitation-only memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London to pay tribute to the many victims — and remember the survivors, like himself, who are still struggling in the aftermath.

It is, indeed, a miracle Dan will be there at all. He spent eight weeks in a coma after the attack and 12 weeks in intensive care. He somehow managed to survive three cardiac arrests, a collapsed lung, multiple internal injuries, an MRSA infection and later, several suicide attempts.

He continues to battle complex PTSD, hallucinations of the bomber’s face, severe anxiety, OCD and survivor's guilt.

"I live with what happened every minute of every day,” admits Dan. “I have nightmares every night when I can see his face staring at me and I can see his rucksack. I can smell the burning bodies. I can taste blood in my mouth.

“When I go to bed at night, I don’t want to shut my eyes because when I do it’s like a horror film. Twenty years on, I still dread going to bed.”

Days are also difficult because Dan’s anxiety triggers panic attacks.