<p><br /> Up to 50 people disembarked from the overcrowded bus blown up in the July 7 attacks just moments before the devastating explosion tore through it, the official inquest into the events has heard.<br /> </p><p><br /> Unaware of what was disrupting the transport network that morning and forcing legions of would-be Tube passengers to travel overground, the driver had made a diversion.<br /> </p><p><br /> Following protocol, he announced this to his passengers, advising those whose destinations were nearby that they might be better off walking.<br /> </p><p><br /> Between 30 and 50 hopped off - unaware that their driver's advice may have saved their lives.<br /> </p><p><br /> Forced to depart from his normal number 30 route by police blocking the road, Greek-born George Psaradakis did not now know where he was.<br /> </p><p><br /> Giving evidence, he said: "Lots of people got off the bus... I pulled away slowly, at crawling speed. When I was near (two) traffic officers I opened my window and called them.<br /> </p><p><br /> "I said to them 'what is the name of this place?'... They said Tavistock Square, so I thanked them and tried to call my garage and then - bang. The explosion."<br /> </p><p><br /> At first he thought he had hit something in the road, but he soon realised the full horror of what had happened.<br /> </p><p><br /> "The windscreen blew away, debris fell all over me," he said. "I was stunned, shocked. I touched my head and could only feel dust."<br /> </p><p><br /> Confused as he was, he dragged himself from his seat and off the bus, stepping into a road strewn with body parts.<br /> </p><p><br /> "I kept looking if there is anybody I could help but again people were dismembered and all dying."<br /> </p><p><br /> Recalling the emotion he felt as he gazed at the remains of his passengers, who a few minutes earlier had been talking and laughing, he said: "I never felt that way ever in my life...<br /> </p><p><br /> "Seeing my passengers in such a state really shocked me, I was overwhelmed."<br /> </p>
