07/07: War On Britain: MOST TERRIFYING 30 MINUTES OF MY LIFE.Byline: By RICHARD KIRKLAND Survivor of Piccadilly line The Piccadilly Line is a line of the London Underground, coloured blue on the Tube map. It is the third busiest line on the Underground. It is mainly a deep-level line running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with significant surface running sections in its outer blast IT was like every other rush hour morning on the Tube. I was jammed up against the doors. But just after the train pulled away from the King's Cross platform there was an explosion behind me. The train lurched to a sudden stop and we were plunged into darkness. The carriage filled with choking fumes fumes odorous gases and other volatile materials; inhalation of irritating fumes causes coughing and, if sufficiently severe, irreversible pulmonary edema. . It was very quiet. I remember thinking that we were certain to die and that suffocation suffocation: see asphyxia. on the Piccadilly Line was not how I imagined it should be. People used their mobiles for light. I could hear someone reassuring others they would come to find us. It was hard to breathe. People in the next carriage were screaming. We were there for perhaps 30 minutes and were led out by Underground staff. There were passengers lying on the track, not moving. As it got lighter I could see people were covered in blood. One man seemed to have lost the back of his scalp. I was desperate to get to daylight. When I emerged I wandered around the station concourse in confusion. A nurse on her way to work helped me and took me to a cafe. She is called Jenny. I'm numb now - I feel I should be dead and I'm not. I'm very grateful for that. CAPTION(S): ORDEAL: Richard yesterday |
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