THE VICTIMS
Mum Michelle was so excited about big gig with her little girl Husband and girls searched city in vain for ‘lovely lady’ Jane
ISIS called them “crusaders” who deserved to die for attending a “shameless concert”.
In the decent, human world, the victims’ families remembered them yesterday with tears, pride and love.
Mum Michelle Kiss, 45, posted a photo before the gig with her daughter Millie, 12, both done up to the nines. She wrote in the caption: “Excited girlies ready to watch Ariana.”
Michelle, of Blackburn, Lancashire, was murdered in the explosion. A policewoman comforted Millie as colleagues tried to find her mum.
More than 100 of Michelle’s friends left frantic messages for her on Facebook after the blast, asking if she was OK.
Her niece, Laura Murray, had to give them the terrible news. She wrote: “It’s true. Thank you everyone for your help. We are all heartbroken”.
The family said: “Michelle Kiss was a loving wife to Tony, mother to Dylan, Elliot and Millie, daughter to Mick and Christine and sister to Nichola. “Family was her life.” Another mum of three, Jane Tweddle-Taylor, 51, was waiting with a pal to pick up the friend’s daughter when Abedi murdered her.
Her ex-footballer husband Mark told how he and his two daughters rushed to Manchester to look for her.
Mark, 52, said: “She was a very, very lovely lady, full of life and liked by everybody. We had loads of happy times.”
Sorrel Leczkowski, 14, was killed after going to the concert with her mum and gran, who are both in hospital. Relatives said the grandmother had been in theatre for 15 hours as surgeons removed shrapnel from her body.
PR manager Martyn Hett, 29, was about to fly to America for a two-month holiday and went to the Manchester Arena with his friends as a leaving party.
Partner Russell Hayward wrote online: “Our wonderful, iconic and beautiful Martyn didn’t survive.
“He left this world exactly as he lived, centre of attention.
“I’m in a really bad way so please forgive me if I don’t reply.
“Thankfully, I have his wonderful family and amazing friends to keep each other strong. I love you Martyn. I always will. X.”
Friends Lisa Lees and Alison Howe, from Oldham, were murdered after going to the Arena to collect their kids.
Lisa’s brother Lee said she would “never ever be forgotten”. Alison’s stepson Jordan described her as “caring and beautiful”.
Nell Jones, 14, a farmer’s daughter from Goostrey in Cheshire, was leaving the gig with her friend Freya Lewis when Abedi took her young life.
David Wheeler, Nell’s form tutor at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive, said: “Nell was very popular, always smiling, always positive. It feels like the pupils have lost a sister, not a classmate.”
Freya, also 14, suffered terrible injuries. Her dad Nick said: “Our situation is impossible to describe.
“Freya has been sewn, bolted, drilled and bandaged back together.
“It’s going to be a long climb but we are on the first step. We really know how much you all care.”
Police confirmed yesterday that an off-duty female officer with the Cheshire force was among those murdered in the arena foyer.
It’s understood she was at the show with her husband and two children, who were all injured, the husband critically.
Twelve of the dead have been named publicly but police confirmed they have identified all 22.
Among those still publicly unaccounted for last night were Courtney Boyle, 18, and her mum’s partner Philip Tron, 32.
They had driven to the Arena to collect Courtney’s little sister Nicole, who survived.
Philip’s brother Michael said: “There is still no news from them.”