2015 London Keynote - Martine Wright - A Story of Suffering, Recovery, Determination and Self-Belief

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Keynote speaker:
Martine Wright, Paralympian; Survivor of the 7/7 London Bombings; Patient Spokesperson
A Story of Suffering, Recovery, Determination and Self-Belief
Martine Wright lost both legs in the 7/7 terrorist attacks on the London underground. She has since rebuilt her life, skydived, learned to fly, and become a member of the British 2012 Paralympic volleyball team. On 6 July 2005 Martine and work friends gathered to watch the announcement of the host city for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. The next morning, having overslept, Martine caught the Circle line and sat just three feet away from suicide bomber Shehzad Tanweer. The worst injured, and consequently last rescued survivor of the 7/7 bombings, Martine was trapped for over an hour having lost 80% of her blood supply as well as both legs above the knees. There followed a painful year of rehabilitation including learning to walk again on prosthetics.
As Martine regained her confidence, she also regained the ambition she once had in her career as international marketing manager for CNET. A Paralympic potential day at Stoke Mandeville hospital led her to the relatively new sport of sitting (not wheelchair) volleyball. Since her injury, Martine has not just qualified for the 2012 Paralympics with the British volleyball team, but also learned to fly a light aircraft, skydived from 10,000 feet, and learned to ski (as well as getting married and giving birth to her first child). Martine’s is a remarkable patient story of suffering and recovery, determination and self-belief.
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