Bus driver 'had saint on his side'
From correspondents in Athens and staff writers
July 09, 2005
THE Greek driver of a bus gutted in the bomb attacks that tore through London has told his family how one of the victims died in his arms.
"He told me that two passengers were killed, and that a girl died in his hands," said Yiannis Psaradakis, the uncle of London Transport driver George Psaradakis.
It is now known that 13 people died in the bus attack.
The 49-year-old driver, whose family lives in the town of Canea on the island of Crete, was unhurt, said the Athens News Agency.
"George said he had a saint on his side," his mother said.
In a statement reported by Britain's Press Association today, the driver said: "I am just relieved to be here and to be able to see my wife and children. Many other people have not been so fortunate....
Full article at: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,15871580%255E1702,00.html
(snip)
Driver of bomb blast bus relieved to be alive
LONDON, AFP:
The driver of the London bus blown apart by a bomb that killed 13 people said, "I am just relieved to be here." Survivor George Psaradakis recounted the nightmare when the roof was ripped clean off his double-decker bus and blood and people were torn apart in Thursday's attack.
Despite "many terrible things" coming back to him, he vowed to return to work.
(snip)
"I am just relieved to be here and to be able to see my wife and children," the 49-year-old said in a statement yesterday through his bus company, Stagecoach.
(snip)
Psaradakis told of the moment his number 30 bus turned off central London's Upper Woburn Place at 9:47 am (2.17 pm IST) on Thursday.
"My bus had been diverted because there were thousands of people coming out of the Tube. There were many people who were trying to get on the bus at once," Psaradakis explained.
"Suddenly there was a bang, then carnage. Everything seemed to happen behind me." The driver said he immediately went to aid his passengers.
"I tried to help the poor people," he said. "There were many injured people and at first I thought, 'How am I alive when everyone is dying around me?'.
Psaradakis said he would need some time off work to overcome the after effects before returning to drive London's streets.
"I am pleased that many people in London are still getting the bus, despite what has happened," he added.
The semi-official Athens News Agency [Ed.Comm: "Semi-Official"???] earlier reported the driver had told his family that one of the victims died in his hands.
"He told me that two passengers were killed, and that a girl died in his hands," Yiannis Psaradakis, George's uncle told the agency.
(snip)
The driver's relatives did not say how Psaradakis managed to evade the blast....
Full article at: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jul92005/update102056200579.asp
Wondering...
Far Sight 3
