Victim of Arena terror attack had ‘unsurvivable injuries’

EXPERT AT ATROCITY HEARING LIKENED YOUNGSTER’S INJURY TO ‘BATTLEFIELD TRAUMA’

THE youngest victim of the Manchester Arena bombing had ‘unsurvivable injuries’ one expert likened to battlefield trauma, the public inquiry into the atrocity heard.

Giving evidence yesterday Professor Jonathan Clasper, a member of the inquiry-appointed ‘blast wave’ panel of experts, said Saffie-Rose Roussos, pictured, sustained ‘military injuries’ in the explosion.

He said the eight-year-old had ‘103 injuries’ and ‘multiple fractures to multiple bones.’

It followed evidence heard on Wednesday that 69 separate sites of injury were found in a post-mortem examination.

The inquiry appointed the panel to examine whether the injuries suffered by the 22 people who died were survivable or not. Their conclusions were reviewed by two senior pathologists.

The panel comprised of Professor Anthony Bull, Professor Clasper, Alan Hepper, Colonel Peter Mahoney and Lt Colonel Mark Ballard – all experts in blast and ballistic injuries.

In its first report, the panel said Saffie sustained ‘multiple secondary blast injuries’ and an ‘overall high burden of injury.’ Her injuries were said to be ‘unlikely to be survivable.’

That meant survival would not be expected, Professor Bull said.

But in a second report, the panel concluded she sustained a ‘primary lung injury and multiple secondary blast injuries, with two of particular significance.’

“We believe Saffie-Rose Roussos’ injuries were unsurvivable, even if speedier admission to hospital had taken place,” said the report.

Prof Bull accepted it was a change in opinion of the panel.

Pete Weatherby QC, for Saffie’s family, said the change had caused ‘significant concern to the family.’

Prof Bull pointed to ‘key’ additional evidence received, like video footage from the body-worn cameras of emergency services personnel and CT scans taken of Saffie post-mortem.

Paul Greaney

QC, counsel to the inquiry, asked Prof

Bull: “Does it remain the opinion of the panel that Saffie’s injuries were unsurvivable, that means there is a nil possibility Saffie would have survived whatever interventions had been made at whatever stage?”

Prof Bull replied: “Yes.”

The expert said there was no evidence that anyone has previously survived ‘such a constellation of injuries.’

Prof Clasper said Saffie suffered ‘severe blast lung’ – caused by the influence energy from a blast wave after an explosion has on the organ.

Colonel Peter Mahoney, another member of the panel who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq and is an anaesthetic consultant, said the condition causes internal bleeding and added: “The overall effect is to lose gas exchange capability in the lung, which in turn impacts on an individual’s ability to breathe.” Prof Clasper said: “We originally said ‘unlikely to survive.’ “The thing that takes it from unlikely to survive to unsurvivable is the effect of the lung injury.” Saffie, from Leyland in Lancashire, was at the Ariana Grande concert on May, 22, 2017, with her mum Lisa and sister.

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