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Back From The Dead: The Untold Story Of the 7/7 Bombings
“They say cats have nine lives so I’ve been giving them a bit of a run. I’ve died three times on an operating table and had the same number of goes at killing myself. Luckily, the doctors were brilliant at saving my life and I was crap at ending it.”
For years living was a fate worse than death for Dan Biddle. In a moment of someone else’s madness, he lost all meaning to his existence along with both his legs, his left eye, his spleen and all hearing in his left ear.
His body and mind were devastated on 7 July 2005, during the worst single terrorist atrocity on British soil. It took ten seconds to disassemble him. It’s taken twenty years for him to find the inner peace and brutal honesty reveal his daily battle to go on surviving.
The against-the-odds story of his triumphs and joy will astonish. His battle with bureaucracy and despair will anger and shock.
The extraordinary love story that keeps him alive will inspire.
For years living was a fate worse than death for Dan Biddle. In a moment of someone else’s madness, he lost all meaning to his existence along with both his legs, his left eye, his spleen and all hearing in his left ear.
His body and mind were devastated on 7 July 2005, during the worst single terrorist atrocity on British soil. It took ten seconds to disassemble him. It’s taken twenty years for him to find the inner peace and brutal honesty reveal his daily battle to go on surviving.
The against-the-odds story of his triumphs and joy will astonish. His battle with bureaucracy and despair will anger and shock.
The extraordinary love story that keeps him alive will inspire.
- GenresNonfiction
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2025
4 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 10, 2025
BACK FROM THE DEAD: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE 7/7 BOMBINGS can be called a miracle because its author had almost no chance of surviving the suicide bomber attack. He was the closest person to Mohammed Sidique Khan, who blew himself up on a London Tube on the 7th of July 2005. His traumas were incompatible with life; his heart stopped twice, and only the heroic actions of doctors and nurses saved him. However, the real struggle began after the blast.
Dan Biddle doesn't like memoirs from people achieving something extraordinary after life-changing events. In his view, ordinary things like standing (or sitting) in bed, taking a shower, and making breakfast take much more energy and courage if you sustained massive injuries and suffer from CPTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder). Thus, BACK FROM THE DEAD shows just that, ordinary things done by ordinary people, Dan and his loved ones. Narrative nonfiction tone, as if the author talks with you directly, makes reading easier and smooths out the rough edges of the gruesome story. There is no self-pity or boiling hatred over Khan's actions, though he became a fixture in Dan's recurring flashbacks. For the reader and himself, Dan Biddle openly dissects his life to understand what helps him to get up every morning. There is a special person beside him, whose support is vital for Dan. Nevertheless, his will to live and even help others in a similar situation (despite a few setbacks) makes the memoir worth reading.
BACK FROM THE DEAD will be beneficial to any reader, but readers from the UK will find it particularly helpful: Dan Biddle talks at length about the flaws of the English state system for the disabled.
For me, it is one of the best nonfiction reads this year. Yes, most memoirs are written by winners (if being blown off by an extremist, or being hit by a Russian missile in Ukraine, or being crashed by a snowcat can be considered a win). Yes, every one of these stories is unique. Each one demonstrates to what extent humans are not defined solely by their physicality, but by the grandeur of their spirits.
I received my advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
Dan Biddle doesn't like memoirs from people achieving something extraordinary after life-changing events. In his view, ordinary things like standing (or sitting) in bed, taking a shower, and making breakfast take much more energy and courage if you sustained massive injuries and suffer from CPTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder). Thus, BACK FROM THE DEAD shows just that, ordinary things done by ordinary people, Dan and his loved ones. Narrative nonfiction tone, as if the author talks with you directly, makes reading easier and smooths out the rough edges of the gruesome story. There is no self-pity or boiling hatred over Khan's actions, though he became a fixture in Dan's recurring flashbacks. For the reader and himself, Dan Biddle openly dissects his life to understand what helps him to get up every morning. There is a special person beside him, whose support is vital for Dan. Nevertheless, his will to live and even help others in a similar situation (despite a few setbacks) makes the memoir worth reading.
BACK FROM THE DEAD will be beneficial to any reader, but readers from the UK will find it particularly helpful: Dan Biddle talks at length about the flaws of the English state system for the disabled.
For me, it is one of the best nonfiction reads this year. Yes, most memoirs are written by winners (if being blown off by an extremist, or being hit by a Russian missile in Ukraine, or being crashed by a snowcat can be considered a win). Yes, every one of these stories is unique. Each one demonstrates to what extent humans are not defined solely by their physicality, but by the grandeur of their spirits.
I received my advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
September 19, 2025
20 years ago Dan Biddle was sitting next to a terrorist who detonated a bomb on a tube train at Edgware Road Station. Despite his horrific injuries he survived, and in this book he tells the story of the attack and his life since then.
Back from the Dead is a testimony to Dan Biddle's courage and, although he wouldn't agree, he is an inspiration to many people. He doesn't pull any punches in his description of the bombing or how his life has continued since then. Despite the subject matter this was an incredibly uplifting read, and the best non fiction book I've read in years.
Back from the Dead is a testimony to Dan Biddle's courage and, although he wouldn't agree, he is an inspiration to many people. He doesn't pull any punches in his description of the bombing or how his life has continued since then. Despite the subject matter this was an incredibly uplifting read, and the best non fiction book I've read in years.
September 8, 2025
Dan is a brave man sharing his story of the terrible event that changed his life irreparably.
For me, growing up when the events of the book happened, I was unaware being a young child, yet, now as an adult, find it so important to understand historical events that affected the country and area's we use.
I found the story so breathtaking in the raw honesty and the unbelievable odds Dan faced with his injuries especially after the 7/7 events which is just shocking especially how the memories will always linger on daily life around every corner or avenue of your mind in trauma of the unexpected we never know we're about to face.
I do want to say the book obviously speaks very vividly and graphically depicting openly the trauma past and present to now how it effects daily living so please ne aware of that before picking up the book if you may find yourself too triggered in any way about trauma discussion and injury discussion.
Overall, this was an incredibly honest account of one man's trauma but the resilience to carry on and educate others of the events is so important to remember and appreciate our daily lives as they are at present, everything we are lucky to have or even take for granted.
For me, growing up when the events of the book happened, I was unaware being a young child, yet, now as an adult, find it so important to understand historical events that affected the country and area's we use.
I found the story so breathtaking in the raw honesty and the unbelievable odds Dan faced with his injuries especially after the 7/7 events which is just shocking especially how the memories will always linger on daily life around every corner or avenue of your mind in trauma of the unexpected we never know we're about to face.
I do want to say the book obviously speaks very vividly and graphically depicting openly the trauma past and present to now how it effects daily living so please ne aware of that before picking up the book if you may find yourself too triggered in any way about trauma discussion and injury discussion.
Overall, this was an incredibly honest account of one man's trauma but the resilience to carry on and educate others of the events is so important to remember and appreciate our daily lives as they are at present, everything we are lucky to have or even take for granted.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews