Attack victim’s mum thanks Manchester
SHE WAS FEET AWAY FROM HER SON IN THE HORRIFIC BLAST
PHILIP Tron’s mother was just feet away from her son when he was killed in a bomb blast at Manchester Arena.
Recalling the “most traumatic and despairing time of her life”, June Tron said she was outside of the arena when the bomb was detonated.
Mrs Tron, from Gateshead, lost her 32-year-old son in the atrocity that killed 22 people on May 22.
She had been on a day trip to the city when Philip was fatally injured by suicide bomber Salman Abedi.
Philip, a barman in Low Fell, had been going to pick up his partner’s daughter Courtney Boyle, 19, from the Ariana Grande concert when the bomb exploded, killing them both.
Mrs Tron was outside of the arena when the devastating explosion happened.
In a letter to the our sister title, the Manchester Evening News, Mrs Tron paid tribute to her son and issued a heartfelt thank you to the people of Manchester for their show of solidarity.
She wrote: “Last week I laid to rest my beautiful son Philip who was tragically killed in the Arena bombing. I was with Philip in Manchester that day and was parked outside when the blast occurred.
“There followed what I can only described as the most traumatic and despairing time of my life. Expecting to be only in Manchester for the day I was there for nearly two weeks first awaiting news and then dealing with the aftermath.
“During that time, the help that I and my family received from the emergency services, the Red Cross, and the Swan Bereavement nurses was invaluable. Without their help, I do not think that I could have got through that period.
“I would also like to place on record through your paper my thanks and gratitude for the help that we received from the people of Manchester. The way they came forward offering all forms of support shows the spirit of the city in its true light.
“The Queen in her birthday speech paid tribute to the nation for the way that they rallied in support of others. It is just a pity that the Prime Minister and other senior politicians did not do the same. “Thank you Manchester.” Philip and Courtney were two of four victims from the North East. Teenage couple Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford, aged 19 and 17 respectively, from South Shields, were also killed.