Bomb amputee walks down the aisle

A woman who lost both her legs in the July 7 bomb attacks in London has walked down the aisle at her wedding.

Gill Hicks, 37, who walked on prosthetic legs, had vowed from her hospital bed that the Tube bombing would not ruin her wedding to Joe Kerr.

The pair married at St Etheldreda's in Holborn Circus, central London, the oldest Catholic church in the city.

Blessings from the Pope and the Archbishop of Westminster were read out during the all-Latin ceremony.

Among the guests were Pcs Steve Bryan and Aaron Debnam, British Transport Police officers who helped to rescue Ms Hicks after the attack, at Russell Square, and tried to keep her conscious above ground.

They had thought Ms Hicks had not survived the disaster until the three were reunited for a BBC documentary last month.

"I want to walk because I want to try and have some sort of life back"
Gill Hicks

Miss Hicks' memories of the bomb

Ms Hicks, an Australian, had lived in the capital for 12 years when she was caught up in the 7 July bomb attacks.

Late for work at the Design Council, she had boarded the Tube just as the morning rush hour was drawing to a close.

Her lower legs were almost blown off when an explosive laden rucksack was detonated close to where she was standing. Twenty-six people were killed.

Ms Hicks, speaking to the BBC in October, described how she told Father Kit Cunningham of her determination to marry four days after she was admitted into intensive care.

"I think I scared the priest that's going to marry us.

"Apparently the first thing I did was bolt straight up in bed and say: 'I'm going to be walking up the aisle'.

"That's been a fantastic date to focus on - and a reason to walk. I want to walk because I want to try and have some sort of life back."

Father Cunningham said before the ceremony that Ms Hicks had shown remarkable courage.

"At the rehearsal she did walk up the aisle on the arm of her brother who is giving her away so it will be a great moment for everybody.

"She's a very feisty girl and she is not allowing this terrible disaster to hinder her - she is happy to get on with life."