Firefighter defends July 7 delay

The aftermath of the Aldgate Tube bomb attack on July 7, 2005
12 April 2012

A firefighter has defended his decision to delay entering a Tube tunnel to rescue 7/7 victims until he was sure the power to the tracks was off.

The inquest for those killed in the attacks has heard that a senior policeman and a passenger on the bombed train expressed frustration at seeing fire crews waiting on the platform at Aldgate station on July 7 2005.

But London Fire Brigade sub officer Michael Curnick said he and his men were held up by less than three minutes, and insisted he had to be certain it was safe.

He said after reaching the wrecked train he requested extra first aid kits, resuscitators and equipment for removing the injured. But his radio did not work and he had to send a colleague back to the station to pass on the message.

The firefighter told the inquest he made his men wait before going onto the tracks while he checked that the electricity had been switched off.

He said: "I asked a member of LUL (London Underground Limited) staff who was standing at the end of the platform as it dipped down onto the line itself. I asked him could he confirm that the power to the lines was off and he said, 'I'm not sure'."

Police inspector Robert Munn told the inquest this week of his frustration that a group of firefighters would not enter the tunnel even after he stood on the power rail to demonstrate it was safe. Mr Curnick said he could not recall Insp Munn being there.

"But even if I did see him there, I wouldn't take his word for it, jumping up and down on the lines. I would go through a LUL member of staff," he said. "We need to get confirmation of power off and train stopped because moving trains can bridge gaps on the lines and transfer the power back on."

The inquest has also heard that Michael Henning, one of the passengers on the bombed train, told three groups of firefighters waiting around in the station: "Why aren't you down there? There are people dying." Mr Curnick said he could not remember being approached by any passengers who asked why he and his crew were waiting. He said the delay before he and his men went onto the tracks lasted less than three minutes, adding: "It felt like a lifetime but it wasn't."

Kirstin Boyd, counsel for London Fire Brigade, asked him: "If you were faced with those circumstances again, would you have done anything differently?" He replied: "No, I wouldn't. I would do exactly the same."

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