A HUDDERSFIELD woman who survived the terrors of the 7/7 bombings was hailed a hero.

Julie Gruen – who grew up just two miles from the home of suicide bomber Jermaine Lindsay – was last night praised by a coroner.

Lady Justice Hallett paid tribute to Miss Gruen’s heroism, after hearing how she helped save other passengers after Lindsay detonated his deadly bomb.

She told her: “From what Paul Mitchell told me, it sounds as if your prompt action contributed to saving his leg, if not contributed to saving his life.

“So thank you for assisting him and your other fellow passengers, and thank you for assisting me.”

There were emotional scenes in court as Miss Gruen recalled fearing for her life as a “huge fireball” engulfed the carriage.

The former Honley High School student, who moved to London for a new career, gave evidence to the 7/7 inquest by a video link.

Ironically she grew up in Almondbury, only a couple of miles away from the Dalton home shared by Lindsay and his family, as he studied at Rawthorpe High School.

She told the inquest the Finsbury Park platform was “incredibly busy” and there had been a “mad rush” of passengers boarding the train that morning.

Congestion meant the Tube doors were initially unable to close.

Miss Gruen fought back tears as she recalled being blown backwards by the blast.

“I saw a huge fireball explosion, as though it was coming towards me and I looked at that and then I just looked to my left and I literally thought that would be it,” she said.

“I don’t know what happened but I remember looking at it, then just thinking, you know, next thing I’ll be gone.”

Miss Gruen, who boarded the Tube train at Finsbury Park, had just got out her book and was listening to her iPod when Lindsay’s explosion rocked the train.

Moments later there was “just blackness, darkness”, she said.

“I remember just sort of making out someone on the floor and thinking it was just out of some kind of horror film,” she said.

But in “very, very smoky” conditions, she was able to reassure fellow passengers and help Mr Mitchell, who was lying across 22-year-old Philip Beer.

Mr Beer, a hairdresser from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, later died of his injuries.

“I called out and I said to everyone ’Look, everything’s going to be OK’,” Miss Gruen said.

The inquest heard that Mr Beer responded to conversation and continued talking until Mr Mitchell was removed from the carriage – an estimated 45 minutes after the blast.

Miss Gruen said it was 30 to 45 minutes before the first members of the emergency services reached the bombed train.

A fireman broke down the door between the first and second carriages so the trapped passengers could escape, the hearing was told.

Miss Gruen emerged from the tunnel at King’s Cross station and headed for the surface with fellow survivor Matthew Brooks who had part of his face “blown away” by the blast.

As she reached ground level, she was astonished to see other travellers heading down to the Underground lines.

She said: “There were still commuters going down the other side of the escalator and down the steps, unaware of what had happened.

“They were looking at Matthew and myself. We looked a mess. I think we were the first from that carriage walking injured going up those escalators.

“They were seeing us for the first time and their faces were just in disbelief. They had no idea what had just happened.”

Miss Gruen was taken to the Royal Free Hospital to be treated for her injuries.

She said: “I’m just so lucky I wasn’t badly injured or killed. I feel so lucky. Someone was watching over me.”