Bombs: Bus drivers back at work

2005-09-07 21:28

London - The two London bus drivers whose vehicles were targeted in the July terrorist attacks, were back behind the wheel on Wednesday, for the first time since the bombings.

Both George Psaradakis and Mark Maybanks said they were conquering their fears about working again and vowed the bombers would not beat them.

On July 7, Psaradakis, 49, was driving the number 30 bus, which was blown apart in Tavistock Square. The blast killed 13 people, including presumed suicide bomber, Hasib Mir Hussein, 18.

Maybanks, 38, was driving a number 26 bus through Shoreditch in east London when a bomb failed to detonate in the copycat repeat attacks on July 21.

Drivers want same routes

Both men returned to Stagecoach Bus Depot in Stratford, east London, for their first full day back at work on Wednesday, and were adamant they wanted to drive the same routes again.

Psaradakis said: "I wanted to drive the number 30 because I believe the place you fear, you have to conquer it by going there."

Maybanks said: "Stagecoach said we don't have to drive these routes, but we have said no, we will go back to the same routes because we are not scared to do them.

"If you don't face your fears they will defeat you."

Driver helped stricken passengers

Psaradakis was pictured staggering away from the bus, 30 seconds after the blast. In shock after helping stricken passengers, he disappeared.

An hour later, he turned up, spattered with blood, still in shock and shaking.

The Greek-born driver said he would love to meet his passengers who also survived the blast.

He said: "That moment, that dreadful moment, it will stay forever in my mind and my heart. What I saw, it was a carnage and it has deeply affected me."

He said it was "a bit daunting" to get back behind the wheel.

Maybanks said he was also apprehensive, but added: "We shan't be bombed out of our buses.

- AFP