Twenty years ago, at exactly 8:50 a.m. on July 7, 2005, Martine Wright’s life changed forever.
She was on a Circle Line train just three feet away from one of the suicide bombers during the 7/7 London bombings — the worst terrorist attack on British soil in modern history. The coordinated attacks claimed 52 lives and injured more than 700 people. Martine was among the most critically wounded. She lost both of her legs, spent 10 days in a coma, and emerged to a life she never expected — but one she would go on to redefine with courage, humor, and unstoppable spirit.
🕯️ From Tragedy to Triumph
Martine had overslept that morning after celebrating London’s successful Olympic bid the night before. In a split-second decision — one of those sliding doors moments — she opted to stay on the train instead of changing routes. A decision that would place her directly in harm’s way.
But amidst the chaos and carnage underground, Martine found an unlikely savior: Liz Kenworthy, an off-duty police officer who ran toward the explosion, not away. Liz stayed with Martine for over an hour, stopping the bleeding, comforting her, and quite literally saving her life. Martine still bears a scar in the shape of lips — a symbol, she says, of the kiss of life and love from her guardian angel.
🦿 A New Chapter: Paralympian, Mother, MBE
Despite her devastating injuries, Martine refused to be defined by that one horrific day. In the years that followed, she rebuilt her life piece by piece:
- She became a Paralympian, representing Great Britain in sitting volleyball at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
- She became a mother, raising her son Oscar with joy and honesty, even when explaining the difficult truth about her past.
- She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2016 for her services to sport and charity.
- And perhaps most importantly, she found a new purpose: inspiring others through her story of resilience and recovery.
“I feel like I’ve got a job to do in life now — and that’s to share what happened,” Martine says. “Because life is full of circles.”
❤️ “I’m Lucky. I’m Still Here.”
Martine’s outlook is nothing short of remarkable. She calls herself “lucky” — not because of what happened, but because she survived, and because she was able to turn unimaginable trauma into a platform for purpose, positivity, and public service.
With trademark humor and grace, she even jokes about her prosthetics:
“I have the thinnest ankles now, ladies!”
🎙️ A Voice That Needs to Be Heard
Martine Wright is more than a survivor — she’s a speaker, a motivator, and a deeply human reminder that even in the darkest of moments, light can break through.
This week, as she marks 20 years since 7/7, Martine returned to Loose Women to reflect. And while the memories are painful, her message is unwavering:
“We’ve had a tough time. But look what we’ve done. Look what we’ve become.”
🙌 To Martine: Thank you for reminding us what it means to live boldly, love deeply, and never take a single day for granted.
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