Appeal set up for Manchester bomb victim
ARUNCORN scaffolder has undergone brain surgery and to remove shrapnel from his leg after being caught up in the blast at the Manchester Arena on Monday.
Phil Hassall, of Runcorn Old Town, and believed to be in his late 30s, had gone to the Ariana Grande concert with his girlfriend Rachel Hughes and two daughters when the suicide bomber struck, killing 22 and injuring many more with 59 casualties taken to hospital and 60 walking wounded.
His friend and colleague of 10 years Ian Bland, 32, of Runcorn Old Town, has launched a fundraising campaign to raise money to help Phil while he is recuperating and unable to work.
Phil suffered serious head and leg injuries after being caught ‘in the middle’.
Doctors placed him in an induced coma to operate and remove shrapnel.
He has now come round but could be facing a long road to recovery ahead.
Ian said fellow scaffolders have rallied round, heeding the call for their colleague and donations have poured in, amassing more than £5,900 at the time of writing on the Just Giving website appeal set up by Ian.
He said he had been unable to contact the family but pressed on with the appeal out of concern for his friend and Phil’s family.
Phil, who works for Altrad NSG at the Tata Chemicals Lostock works in Northwich, is a keen Everton FC fan and Ian said he is hoping to gain their support as well. Ian said: “He’s a massive Everton fan. “I’ve tweeted them, I’ve emailed them as well, but got no response.
“He only took his daughter and his girlfriend and her daughter for a night out. “It’s an event for kids, for God’s sake!” He added: “We’re on £5,800, the target was five but it was a modest target, I didn’t want to be too greedy.
“The scaffolding community as a whole is pulling together for him, even people he doesn’t know.”
To donate visit www.justgiving.com and search for Phil Hassall and Ian Bland. ●