I'm so proud, says 7/7 lifesaver as victim names son after him

Best of friends: Adrian Heili saved Dan Biddle, who lost his legs in the Edgware Road blast
Laura Roberts12 April 2012

A hero of the 7/7 bombings spoke of his pride today after a victim he saved named his son after him.

Adrian Heili gave vital first aid to one of the worst injured survivors of the Edgware Road Tube attack.

The South African security consultant lifted carriage doors off Dan Biddle's legs and used his shirt to create a tourniquet. Mr Biddle survived against the odds. He lost his legs, an eye, spleen, and 87 pints of blood.

In tribute to his rescuer, the 32-year-old from Romford has given five-week-old son Nathan the middle name Adrian. Mr Heili, 31, of Morden, said: "It's a great honour.

"I'm just happy Danny is around and can be with his wife and have his children. We are best of friends and speak almost daily. We try to catch up for a drink and meet with our families.

There's a lot happening in his life and a lot happening in mine. I'm happy I was in that position to help Danny and the others. I believe it was fate."

Mr Biddle, an accessibility consultant, told The Sun: "I owe the man everything. I would have died in the tunnel. His bravery saved my life. I wanted to ensure Adrian's name and what he did for me and my family live on." He said his friend was "choked up" when told of the honour.

Mr Biddle was blown through the doors of the train when Mohammad Sidique Khan set off his bomb at 9.17am on July 7, 2005. The blast killed six.

Mr Heili, an advanced first-aider, picked his way through the carriage and stayed with Mr Biddle. After medics took over he returned to the tunnel up to eight times to help others.

Mr Biddle spent six weeks in a coma and a year in hospital recovering. He married fiancée Lisa, 31, with Mr Heili a guest at the wedding, and has a two-year-old daughter, Caitlyn.

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