Cops get Lakes breaks to beat Arena trauma
POLICE called out to deal with the Manchester Arena bombing are being offered lakeside breaks to help them cope with trauma.
Dozens of officers who were first on the scene when crazed Salman Abedi set off his bomb are still struggling to come to terms with the ordeal, five months later.
Many were left traumatised after helping to treat the scores of injured and dying at the Ariana Grande concert on May 22. Greater Manchester Police are giving officers convalescent stays in the Lake District to help them overcome the nightmare they endured.
A source said: “Officers and their families are being offered stays at a retreat to aid their own recovery after the Manchester bombing.
“Dozens of police who were first responders to the scene are still struggling to process what happened.
“Many are angry because they were left to treat the victims while paramedics weren’t allowed access to the building until it was declared safe by bomb disposal experts.
“Police officers had to perform CPR and treat the dying while they waited. So many of them are still completely haunted.” Twenty-two people died and 59 were left horrifically injured when Abedi blew himself up as fans left after the concert.