A survivor of the 7/7 London bombings was found dead hours after the Manchester Arena attack – amid fears he took his own life after being overwhelmed by the horror.

Tony Walter, 52, was discovered dead at his home after failing to turn up to work the day after suicide bomber Salman Abedi murdered 22 people and injured a further 116 at the Manchester Arena.

A friend has claimed he is the ‘23rd victim’ of the bombing and killed himself because he ‘didn’t want to live in a world where these terror attacks continue’.

Tony Walter, pictured, who survived the London 7/7 2005 terror attack, was found dead hours after the Manchester bombing with fears raised he took his own life 'after being overwhelmed by the horror'

Mr Walter was on the Edgware Road train that was bombed (pictured) and was just yards from the device when it detonated

Fifty-two people were killed and 700 injured in the attacks on three underground trains and one double-decker bus, pictured

Friends of Mr Walter said he did not turn up for work following the Manchester attack, pictured, and they fear it may have caused him to take his own life

On July 7, 2005, Mr Walter was yards from fanatic Mohammad Sidique Khan when he detonated a device on a Tube train after it left Edgware Road station.

Seven people, including Khan, died. Mr Walter was showered with shrapnel but survived.

Friends believe that the Manchester bombing, coupled with the Westminster attack in March when four people were killed by Khalid Masood, brought back traumatic memories for Mr Walter.

Staff at the London legal firm where he worked were told by a boss on Thursday morning that he had taken his own life.

A friend told the Sun: ‘Everyone is distraught by Tony taking his life. After the Westminster attack he really struggled.

‘He was off work for a few days saying he couldn’t cope with how it brought back the memories of 7/7.’

Mr Walter eventually turned to work but seemed ‘withdrawn’. When he didn’t appear at work following the Manchester Arena attack his colleagues began to get worried.

Manchester Arena: A friend has claimed Mr Walter killed himself because he ‘didn’t want to live in a world where these terror attacks continue’

Mr Walter was discovered dead at his home after failing to turn up to work the day after suicide bomber Salman Abedi murdered 22 people and injured a further 116 at the Manchester Arena

They feared the worse and contacted the police, who then discovered him dead at his home.

His friend added: ‘Everyone that knew Tony believes he is the 23rd victim of the Manchester Arena attack. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi is responsible for Tony taking his life as well as those he killed.’

Mr Walter’s sister-in-law Sheila Walter said the family are ‘devastated’ and described him as a ‘lovely man’.

He was found in his flat at 2.10pm on Wednesday — 40 hours after the Manchester bombing.

John Pritchard, his boss at Legal 500, told devastated colleagues of the suspected suicide on Thursday. He said the loss of Mr Walter, who had worked at the firm for 17 years, was felt ‘particularly hard’.

On July 7, 2005, Mr Walter was yards from fanatic Mohammad Sidique Khan when he detonated a device on a Tube train after it left Edgware Road station (pictured)

Scotland Yard said: ‘Police were called on Wednesday 24 May shortly after 14.10 hours to an address following a concern for the welfare of the occupant.

‘Officers forced entry to the property and found a 52-year-old man who was unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The man’s next of kin have been informed.

‘The death is not being treated as suspicious. The matter has been referred to the coroner.’

Mr Walter, from Tottenham, told a public inquiry into 7/7 that when Khan detonated the bomb it felt as if he was being ‘electrocuted from the feet up’.

The bomb was one of four detonated by terrorists across London in a co-ordinated attack that killed 52 and injured more than 700.