The split second decision that saved family from blast

ASOUTHPORT mum-of-two revealed how a split second decision saved her and her daughter from a bomb which killed 22 people at the Manchester Arena,

Jennifer Corcoran, 36, was at the Ariana Grande concert with her 16-year-old daughter Niamh Rowan on Monday night.

Usually Jennifer leaves concerts just before the end to avoid crushes of people, a decision she says “would certainly have put us right there” when the explosion happened.

The tickets were a special treat for Niamh who has been doing her exams recently, so Jennifer decided to splash out on better seats as a one-off.

Jennifer, who works in Fletchers Solicitors, said: “During the concert there was some Ariana money as a prop and we couldn’t catch any so we went to see if the event security could pass us some for her little sister.

“I also didn’t want to get on to busy stairs to get out so we lingered.”

This split second decision not to leave the concert early could have saved Jennifer and her daughter from being caught up in the horrific events while unfolded in the foyer of Manchester Arena.

Jennifer told of the panic inside the venue after the bomb went off: “We heard a bang, there were screams and a swell of people.

“Security asked us to duck, which we did. There were young children upset all over which kept me calm in a weird way.”

The day after the attack, Jennifer woke her youngest daughter, Paloma seven, to explain what had happened.

Now Paloma has started calling the Ariana money a “lucky charm” for saving her mum and sister from the bomb blast.

Since the attack, Jennifer’s mind has been filled with “what ifs” of how events could have unfolded for her family.

After hearing of those killed while waiting to pick up their children in the foyer, Jennifer’s first thought was of her partner who would have arranged to meet them in the same spot had he come to collect them that evening.

Jennifer said she and Niamh are still “a bit shocked and shaken”.

She said: “We know how lucky we were and we are keen to live our lives and not let terror win.”

Pink ribbons have been tied around street signs in Tarleton and Hesketh Bank after the deaths of Georgina Callander and Saffie Rose Roussos in a terror attack last week

Above, Jennifer Corcoran with daughter Niamh Rowan at the Ariana Grande concert, left, Jennifer’s daughter Paloma, seven, calls the Ariana Grande money her family’s ‘lucky charm’