Counting the full, terrible toll as final victim named
Outpouring of grief as 15-year-old is identified as the final fatality among the 22 killed by suicide bomb
One by one their names emerged. With each came another story of the fatal wounds inflicted on youngsters who had come out for the evening to watch their favourite singer, and the parents who were waiting in the foyer to pick them up.
Some emerged on social media, as family members who had been frantically searching for news of loved ones broke the news they had lost their lives. Others were announced via schools, as it became clear many of the victims were just children.
Yesterday evening the picture was complete. Each of the 22 victims of Britain’s most devastating terrorist attack in a decade had been identified.
With their names came stories of heroism, such as 32-year-old Kelly Brewster, who lost her life saving her 11-year-old niece Hollie when she shielded her from the blast.
Some were mothers who had come out with friends and their daughters, others had come to pick up their children. Michelle Kiss had travelled to Manchester with her 12-year-old daughter Millie.
The picture of Millie standing behind a police cordon in her gold trainers wearing a police officer’s coat while she waited for news of her mother is heartbreaking. Hours earlier, the 45-year-old mother of three had posted a picture of Millie and a friend on Facebook with the caption: “Excited girlies ready to watch Ariana.”
Elaine Mciver, an off-duty police officer who died in the blast, was at the concert with her children, who were injured, as was her husband Paul, who is in a serious condition in hospital.
Wendy Fawell was at the concert with her friend Caroline, who was seriously injured, and their children. She was seen in the foyer of the arena shortly before the explosion which claimed her life.
More than 100 people attended a vigil for her in Otley. One friend said: “She was the kindest person you’d ever wish to meet.”
Alison Howe, 45, and Lisa Lees, 47, from Royton, Oldham, were waiting in the foyer when the home-made device exploded. On Tuesday their relations confirmed they were among the dead. Marcin and Angelika Klis were at the venue to pick up their daughters, Alex and Patricia. When they could not be found after the attack, one of their daughters posted a plea for help on Facebook. Polish nationals, their country’s foreign minister later confirmed the couple had died.
Jane Tweddle-taylor, 50, from Blackpool, had gone to the arena to
‘The inseparable couple wanted to be together forever and now they are, their families have said’
pick up a friend’s daughter when she went missing. “We were hoping she was in a hotel or hospital,” said her distraught partner Mark. “Jane didn’t come back.”
The youngest faces among the 22 are the most shocking to see.
Saffie Rose Roussos was eight years old. Her brown hair brushed, and wearing her white Ariana Grande T-shirt, she had spent the evening with her mother and stepsister watching her idol. Moments after the final song, a suicide bomb tore this happy family apart.
Georgina Callander, 18, the first victim to be named, must have been so excited to see Grande, whom she had met before. Olivia Campbell, 15, had texted her mother to tell her she was having “an amazing time”. Hours later she was named among the dead.
Three 14-year-old girls were killed in the blast. Nell Jones was with a friend, Freya Lewis, who was injured but is stable after 10 hours of surgery.
Sorrell Leczkowski was killed and her mother and grandmother injured.
Eilidh Macleod, from the Scottish island of Barra, was also killed. She was at the concert with her friend Laura Macintyre, who last night was in a critical condition in hospital.
Courtney Boyle, 18, an aspiring solicitor from Gateshead, was at the concert with her stepfather Philip when the bomb exploded, claiming both their lives.
Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, were also killed. The “inseparable” couple wanted “to be together forever and now they are”, their families have said.
Martyn Hett, a Coronation Street superfan, was also named as one of the dead. John Atkinson, 26, was leaving the venue when he came into close contact with the blast. Tributes were paid by a local adult dance troupe for whom he performed.
Megan Hurley, 15, was the last name to be announced. Megan, who was due to celebrate her 16th birthday next week, was killed and her brother, Bradley, seriously injured in the attack.
Her aunt, Maxine Benson, wrote on Facebook: “It doesn’t seem fair for two kids to go to a concert and only one returns.”