THE Bournemouth University graduate who became known as "the woman in the mask" following the 7/7 bombings made her first public appearance this week.

Davinia Turrell, 24, presented an award at the Mirror's Pride of Britain Awards with Prime Minister Tony Blair, to the emergency services.

Paying tribute to all the servicemen and women who treated the injured following the bomb attacks, Davinia said: "I would like to express my eternal gratitude to all those who acted so quickly and so bravely at the scene of the London bombings.

"All were simply fantastic and treated myself and my family with the utmost kindness, care and compassion."

Davinia was photographed as she was led to safety by Good Samaritan Paul Dadge clutching a surgical burns mask to her face as she stumbled from the carnage near Edgware Road tube station. She was on her way to work onboard a Circle Line train.

That picture of her, bloodied and barefoot and still clinging to her handbag, became one of the iconic images of the atrocity.

Davinia graduated from Bournemouth with a first class degree in law and taxation and has a promising career as a newly-qualified barrister at a London tax cambers.

First published: October 12