July 7 rescuer hits out at Grazia for ‘inaccuracies’

The man who was photographed leading the "woman in the mask" Davina Turrell to safety at Edgware Road station after the 7 July bombings last year has accused Grazia magazine of "the worst inaccuracy" among all his media interviews, after the magazine reported on his life since the attacks.

Paul Dadge told Press Gazette that his interview with the Emap title last week inaccurately reported that he received death threats after his image appeared on Al Qaeda's website.

The ex-firefighter claims that he never mentioned Al Qaeda or death threats, but merely that his picture was featured on extremist websites.

Dadge also said he was concerned that the interview was presented as a firstperson piece and that its alleged inaccuracies were then reproduced in the Daily Star and The Independent on Sunday.

"I've done lots of interviews and Grazia was the only one which rang alarm bells, especially as it was written in the first person," he said.

He added that there must have been "a misunderstanding" with the title.

The article, written by news features writer Andrea Thompson, read: "I was devastated when I discovered my photo next to death threats on Al Qaeda terrorist sites. Terrified, I called the police who informed Special Branch. I'd been targeted because people saw me as the public face of 7/7."

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A spokeswoman for Grazia said: "We are surprised to hear that Paul felt the need to complain about his treatment by Grazia, considering that we heard from him after the piece had been published and he expressed no dissatisfaction with it to us at all. In fact, after seeing the piece, he emailed to say he was open to the idea of us publicising the article further with other media outlets, including national newspapers.

"All of Grazia's real-life features are written in first person. We have had an overwhelming response to his interview and wish him the best for the future."