A 3-part podcast series with the first responders of the 7 July 2005 London bombings
Editor’s note: All historical claims in this post have been independently fact-checked using government reports and primary news sources. See references at the end of this article.
On the morning of 7th July 2005, four suicide bombers detonated explosives across London’s transport network, killing 52 people and injuring more than 700. It was the deadliest terrorist attack on British soil since the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and the worst in London since the Second World War.
For the first responders who were called to Aldgate, Edgware Road, King’s Cross, and Tavistock Square, it was a day that would leave a lifelong imprint.
In this special 3-part series from the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, we speak with three paramedics who were there: Eoin Walker, Adam Desmond, and Sam Sinclair. These aren’t rehearsed statements or official debriefs. They’re honest, human, and at times heartbreaking accounts of what it means to respond to mass casualty trauma, and how that experience lingers in memory, muscle, and identity.
Part 1: Eoin Walker
“You either process it, or it processes you.”
In the opening episode, Eoin Walker reflects on being dispatched to King’s Cross and Aldgate, just one year into his career as a paramedic.
He recounts walking into the tunnel, performing triage in the dark, and acting on instinct while still absorbing the scale of what was unfolding.
But his story is also about the aftermath: how trauma shows up months or years later, how clinical detachment has limits, and how even the best training can’t fully prepare you for the real thing.
Part 2: Adam Desmond
“There’s no safety. There just isn’t.”
In Part 2, Adam Desmond shares his experience responding to the Edgware Road bombing. This episode is unflinching, emotionally raw, and intensely personal. Adam speaks about carrying critically injured patients out of the tunnel, making life-and-death decisions in the moment, and the regret that still lives in the spaces in-between.
He describes moral injury, emotional collapse, and the long journey of trying to understand what happened, and why it affected him the way it did.
🔞 Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of injuries and psychological trauma.
Part 3: Sam Sinclair
“You fall back on teamwork and instinct.”
The final part of the series features Sam Sinclair, who was deployed to Tavistock Square after the fourth and final explosion. His story is one of rapid decision-making, collaboration between unfamiliar teams, and learning to trust gut instinct when every second counts.
Sam speaks about the challenges of debriefing after such events, how 7/7 shaped his values as a clinician, and what he wants the next generation of responders to know.
Why This Series Matters
The 7/7 bombings were a turning point in UK emergency response history. They triggered changes in preparedness protocols, CBRN strategy, and trauma support for emergency workers.
But the personal stories of clinicians who were there often go untold.
This podcast series is a tribute to those voices. By sharing their experiences, we hope to:
- Honour the lives lost and families affected
- Reduce stigma around talking about trauma
- Offer insight into human factors under pressure
- Prepare future responders for what textbooks can’t teach
We’re deeply grateful to Eoin, Adam, and Sam for trusting us with their stories, and for speaking with such honesty, vulnerability, and strength. Sharing memories of a day like 7/7 isn’t easy, and their reflections offer insight not just into clinical decision-making, but into the human cost of being first on scene.
As this series goes live around International Paramedics Day, we also want to recognise the dedication, compassion, and quiet resilience shown by paramedics everywhere. Whether responding to a crisis or showing up for everyday emergencies, the impact you have is extraordinary, and often unseen.
We also pause to remember those who lost their lives on 7th July 2005, and all whose lives were forever changed by that day. This series is shared with deep respect, for the victims, the survivors, their families, and everyone still carrying the weight of those moments.
🎧 Catch the series over the next few days on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen.
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