7/7 London bombings survivor Lisa French was in a romantic relationship with David Rathband, the policeman who was blinded by Raoul Moat in 2010.
Lisa French is a survivor of the 7/7 bombing incident that took place in London on July 7, 2005.
She was in London for a business meeting and boarded the number 30 bus that changed her life forever.
The 2005 bombing was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on the United Kingdom that killed 53 people. Ms. French was one of the victims who managed to survive the incident.
But, it left traumatizing scars on her life. She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder two years after the bombing, reported nhs.uk.
She bonded with Raoul Moat’s 2010 shooting spree victim David Rathband over their similar ordeal. They began to date as both of their marriages began to disintegrate.
As ITV’s Manhunt, based on Moat’s 2010 shooting incident, aired last night, people are revisiting the lives of those involved in the attack.
So, scroll down to know how French was associated with former police officer David Rathband.
Who Is Lisa French? London Bombings Survivor
As mentioned above, Lisa French is a 7/7 London bombing survivor. She is from Longbenton, North Tyneside.
She used to work as a BT human resource manager at the time of the incident. On that unfateful day, she was seated next to the suicide bomber Hasib Hussain, who later went on to detonate the bomb in the moving vehicle.
Unbeknownst to Hasib’s identity and intention, she decided to change her seat as could not fit her laptop side-by-side with all of his bags.
This one decision proved to be a blessing for her as it saved her life. When she woke up in the hospital, she was disoriented and had no recollection of what happened on the bus.
She had vague memories of people screaming bombs and buses but did not know the severity of the situation.
French woke up with perforated eardrums, broken teeth, and several cuts and bruises on her body.
Explore Lisa French Relationship With David Rathband
In 2012, Lisa French disclosed her relationship with policeman David Rathband.
According to Daily Mail, French and Rathband bonded over their similar ordeals. She called him a ‘special person’ and said they fell in love as Rathband’s marriage disintegrated.
Unfortunately, David Rathband died by suicide in 2012. He hanged himself at his home.
Rathband’s twin brother Darren did not want his ex-wife, Kath, to attend his funeral. But, she refused and attend his funeral whatsoever.
Rathband and his ex-wife had been married for twenty years before their separation. He was struggling with losing his eyesight and other personal problems before his death.
Moreover, Rathband and French, who had also separated from her husband, began communicating through Twitter. Eventually, they started talking on the phone.
Once he moved out of the family home, they began spending time together. Ms. French said they had an understanding and would have been able to find a future together if given time.