Commuter who was hero of 7/7 terror attacks to stand for Labour in general election

The heroic commuter whose face became immortalised in one of the most enduring images from the 7/7 bomb attacks in London has been chosen to contest the Cannock Chase seat for Labour at the General Election.

Paul Dadge, who is now 40, was thrust into the spotlight in 2005 following the 7/7 bombings after he was captured helping ‘the woman in the mask’.

The iconic image captured Mr Dadge as he came to the aid of 29-year-old Davinia Turrell and was broadcast across the world in the aftermath of the attack, which claimed the lives of 56 people – including the four attackers.

He’s now announced that he is standing as the Labour candidate, hoping to overturn the 5000 strong majority held by Conservative MP Amanda Milling at the last election in 2015.

Announcing the news on Twitter, he wrote: ‘I’m extremely proud and somewhat emotional to announce that I’ll be standing as the Labour PPC in Cannock Chase. #Labour2017.’

In the 12 years following the attack, Mr Dadge has got married and become a father to a young son and daughter.

Speaking in 2015 to mark the tenth anniversary of the 7/7 attacks, he said: ‘On 7/7 I had a choice to help or walk away. I helped.

‘While I was helping that photograph was taken, and it has given me the opportunity to do things that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do.

‘My day now can vary between extremes. One morning, for example, I was on the sofa with Lorraine just talking and that evening I was giving CPR to someone in cardiac arrest.

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‘It’s extremely unfortunate that these things happen – and unbelievable that they happen again and that people die in such an horrific way – but you still have to live your life to the full, and lead as normal a life as possible.’