Terrified parents’ desperate search
FRANTIC parents clutched phones and tried to control their shaking fingers as they scrolled their screens for news. They searched for numbers. Others sent desperate texts or posted online.
“My six-year-old niece was in Manchester tonight for the concert,’’ one wrote. “We haven’t heard from her/her guardian and are sick with worry.’’
Less than 20 minutes after the nail bomb tore apart the crowd of mostly teenagers and children, a wild volley of social media posts became the first ominous sign that something was horribly wrong in Manchester.
“My little sister Emma was at the Ari concert tonight in Manchester and she isn’t answering her phone. Pls help me,’’ wrote another.
Even those caught up in the madness plugged away at their devices, trying to understand from what they had narrowly escaped. Some set up up accounts specifically to track down loved ones.
“I made this account to find Gabe Lewis; please DM (direct message) me if you have any information,’’ he said.
Another user tweeted: “My boy went to take his lil sis to Ariana Grande tonight let me know if you see him asap.’’
Bunkered down at a nearby hotel more than 50 children cowered lost and alone. They had been separated in the madness.
Fear was spread across their faces.
Some hugged strangers as they scanned for familiar faces or tried to pry important phone numbers from their heads.
Management of the Holiday Inn, the nearest hotel to the arena, had beckoned in children and teenagers as the full scale of the situation became clear. There had been an initial panic following the explosion, said witnesses, then a strange return to calm as an arena spokesman used the PA to try and allay fears.
But he surely must not have understood the full scale of what had happened. Nobody did. There were patches of both chaos and calm as thousands of people made there way out of the stadium.
Staff at the Holiday Inn used social media as the numbers of lost kids increased.
“Parents, we have taken your children to the Holiday Inn,’’ one woman posted. “Please come for them.’’
Meanwhile, parents posted of their shock and relief at having escaped the carnage or having located their children.
The mayor of Liverpool, Steve Rotheram, was among them. “Thank you to the Alpha taxi driver who persevered and eventually got through the traffic to pick up my 2 girls from the Manchester Arena,’’ Cr Rotheram wrote.
There were also public offers of help and hope.
“I am the landlady at Alliance pub in Blackley. If anybody needs anywhere to stay who is stuck in Manchester I will open my doors.’’
And: “Anyone in Manchester who needs to wait for their parents or needs somewhere stay or to make phone calls, etc, just DM me,’’ Twitter user Michael Clancy said.
As authorities confirmed what had now become apparent, other parents took stock of another act of terror and how lucky they were that their children were at home, safe.
“Checked on my sleeping daughter,’’ dad Dan Clifford tweeted. “Lucky me.’’
IF young people affected by this tragedy need to talk to someone, contact Kids Helpline at www.kidshelp.com.au or call 1800 55 1800.