Lorraine Kelly welcomed 7/7 bombing survivor Thelma Stober onto her show today, with the solicitor revealing that doctors recently discovered an injury to her brain from the attack
Lorraine Kelly was left horrified as a 7/7 bombing survivor revealed that she is still suffering from a newly-discovered brain injury 20 years on from the attack. Next week marks two decades since four suicide bombers attacked London’s transport network, which claimed the lives of 52 people and injured over 800.
Thelma Stober appeared on the ITV show ahead of a new documentary on the 7/7 bombings. She lost her leg and part of her hearing as a result of the attack.
Thelma Stober revealed that a piece of shrapnel is lodged in her brain from the attack
While Thelma’s leg was amputated at the time, she revealed that doctors only discovered in 2019 that a piece of shrapnel from the bomb had become lodged in her brain.
“I have had surgeries subsequently – I had further amputation in 2013 because the tibia was going and made it impossible to wear my limb,” she said.
“I have had subsequent internal injuries that originally flared up and in 2019 after years of having migraine, it was discovered that I actually had shrapnel on my brain. My brain is likely submerged, it’s a very slow leak. I have to have a high-definition scan every year to have it monitored.”
Thelma added that she’s “fortunate to be alive today” after she boarded the London underground to head to work. “I was going to the office but I never got there,” she said.
Thelma added that she was stood next to the bomber on the underground, having been told by police after the attack, but wasn’t aware as she was busy working on the train.
“I had no idea, I was aware of people around me but not aware at all. We got to Liverpool Street and I tried to send a text to my PA to say I’m coming into the office and then of course, there was a flash, I was lifted up in the air. I heard screams from a distance,” she said.
“When I eventually woke up, I found myself on the train tracks.”