32 Haslingden students at Arena
THREE Haslingden High School pupils were hospitalised with shrapnel injuries after they were caught in the Manchester Arena explosion.
A total of 32 students from the school had attended the venue separately with either family members or as groups of friends.
Headteacher Mark Jackson said two of the children, including Ella Mcgovern, have been discharged from hospital and the other is still believed to be receiving treatment.
He told the Free Press that they are not ‘life threatening or lifechanging injuries’ and that they will ‘hopefully make a full recovery’.
He said: “It’s a very worrying time. It could have been a lot worse. I think they were all hurt by shrapnel and they were close to the explosion.
“What some of the children have gone through is absolutely horrendous.
“It will stay with them AT least 22 people were killed and 120 injured after a suspected terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena.
Thousands of gig-goers were packed into the venue to see American singer Ariana Grande when the suicide bombing explosion shook the arena around 10.30pm on Monday night.
Mum-of-three Michelle Kiss, who police say is from Lancashire, has been named as one of the victims killed in the attack.
Her devastated family paid tribute to her after her tragic death.
In a statement they said: “Family was her life and we are all obviously devastated by her loss. She has been taken away from us, and all that love her, in the most traumatic way imaginable. Michelle was a loving wife to Tony, mother to Dylan, Elliot and Millie, as well as daughter to Mick and Christine and sister to Nichola. We hope to draw from the courage and strength she showed in her life to get through this extremely difficult time.”
The youngest fatality confirmed so far is Saffie Rose Roussos, aged eight, from Tarleton.
Other people confirmed dead are Nell Jones, 14, from Goostrey, Jane Tweddle, from forever. It’s a very “There was probably an when you go to a concert. Blackpool, Georgina traumatic experience. equal number from each “Some of the students Callander, 18, from
“The children that have year group.” are in year 11 and facing Leyland, John Atkinson, been injured we hope will Mr Jackson said they exams this week. Tuesday 28, from Bury, Olivia make full recoveries. They are now offering support was a light day for exams Campbell, 15, from are not life-threatening or to pupils, parents and staff and some of the one’s that Bury, Alison Howes, 45, life-changing injuries. at the school. went will have gone there and Lisa Lees, 47, both
“Nobody has lost a limb He said: “Hopefully for some light relief.” from Oldham, schoolor anything like that but they are all going to be The school has also girl Megan Hurley, from they are incredibly okay in the long term. We contacted the exam Halewood in Merseypainful. have called every parent boards about the incident side, and Polish couple
“The children were all and offered support. with pupils due to sit Angelika and Marcin in different age groups. Klis.Virtuallyallofthemhaveexamsoverthenextfew Some of them had gone seen something you weeks. Multiple witnesses with parents and some would never wish them to Mr Jackson said: “They reported hearing “huge had gone in small groups. see in your life. say the students won’t be bangs” at the venue There were probably more “The parents are disadvantaged and they shortly after the concert than we thought there was absolutely shocked. You will consider each case on finished and the area going to be. think you should be safe a case-by-case basis.”
“I think she was in the region of about 15m from the blast. I think both her ears are perforated.
“She had all the debris on her. She was absolutely covered head to toe in filth and blood. Pain-wise she is quite a tough little cookie but she’s let out quite a few snippets of information about what she’s seen.
“She was on the floor and had to brush other people off her to get out of the foyer area.”
Rockey said Ella had been looking forward to the Ariana Grande concert for several months and described the terror attack as ‘absolutely sickening’.
He said: “It’s widely known that events like this are mainly populated by children. Who would honestly target somebody like that?
“I’m in the military so I get that avenue of thinking but targeting thousands of children in my mind is just completely disgusting. I don’t want to say she was lucky because she wasn’t she was definitely luckier unfortunately than other people.
“The school have been absolutely amazing and very supportive.”
SEE Scribbler -p8 ●● Rockey Mcgovern and his daughter Ella ●● Michelle Kiss was quickly swamped with police and emergency services.
Salman Abedi, 22, the man believed to be responsible for the attack, died at the scene.
Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said it is believed the suicide bomber was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated inside the foyer. The device was packed with nuts and bolts was used to inflict maximum injury.
British-born Abedi is reported to have recently returned to the UK from a visit to Libya and Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Police armed with machine guns also arrested a 23-year-old man near in Chorlton, south of the city.
Three other men have been arrested.
A total of 59 people were taken for treatment at eight hospitals across Greater Manchester and a further 60 were treated as ‘walking wounded’.
A senior NHS official has confirmed 20 people are still critically injured.
The mum of Tottington High School pupil Olivia Campbell, 15, from Bury, confirmed she was killed in the attack on Monday, May 22.
A schoolfriend of Olivia’s is also seriously ill in hospital and has suffered ‘life-changing injuries’.
Adam Lawler has had surgery at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.