‘ Guardian angel’ daughter comforted her dying mum after Manchester bombing
A MOTHER killed in the Manchester Arena bomb was comforted by her “guardian angel” daughter in her final moments, it was revealed yesterday.
Mother- of- three Michelle Kiss, 45, was one of the 22 people killed by Isis- inspired terrorist Salman Abedi when he detonated his bomb in May 2017.
The public inquiry has started by hearing “pen portraits” of the victims, delivered by grieving families.
Yesterday Tony Kiss, of Whalley, Lancs, told how the city’s outpouring of love following the death of his wife was “incredible”.
Mr Kiss said: “The people of Manchester restored my faith in humanity during the hardest time in my life. They demonstrated in the most incredible way that love can be the more powerful force.”
He believed his daughter comforted her mother during her final moments after the blast and she was “her mum’s little guardian angel”.
Mr Kiss added: “On that fateful night Michelle was just waiting for our daughter. She was just being a mum. Michelle died but somehow my daughter survived amazingly.
“Thankfully she was physically unscathed.
“However, the horrors that she must have witnessed in the aftermath of the explosion are fully known only to herself. I like to believe though that in their last moments together she brought some comfort to her mum.
“I also like to think of her at the moment of their parting as her mum’s little guardian angel because I know that Michelle became her guardian angel in that same very moment.”
Michelle and the family had visited the Arena many times, going six times to see her favourite band Take That.
The inquiry also heard from the family of victims Nell Jones, 14, from Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, and Elaine McIver, 43, from Frodsham, Cheshire.
Nell’s brother Sam Jones read out tributes on behalf of her family, saying:
“She lit up our days with her energy and passion for life. I have no words to describe the pain and grief that we feel each day.
“But those 14 wonderful years that we all shared together and the memories we made were truly special.” Her friend Olivia described her as “irreplaceable”, adding: “Nell was the best friend anyone could wish for. She was kind and thoughtful.
“We shared the same wicked sense of humour. She always made me laugh. She was one- in- a- million and will live in my heart forever.” Elaine was an officer with Cheshire Police but was off- duty at the time. Her sister Linda said she was a very private person but “very much loved and very much a pivotal part of the family”. She added: “She just embraced life. She was gusto and gung- ho and just a joy to be around. She would just hate to be remembered as a victim.” Salman Abedi died at the scene but his brother Hashem has been jailed for 22 murders for at least 55 years. The hearing continues today.