Heartbroken families pay tribute to lost loved ones
THE daughter of a woman killed while she waited to pick her up from the Manchester concert attacked by an Islamist terrorist has described her as “the best mum in the universe and the bestest friend that I could ask for”.
Lisa Lees and her friend Alison Howe had gone to collect their 15-year-old daughters India and Darcie from the Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.
They were in the foyer of the Manchester Arena when Salman Abedi set off his home-made bomb, killing both women.
Now India has paid a poignant tribute to her mother, a tutor at a college in her home town of Oldham.
“You always cheered me up when I was upset and have always been there for me. You have the most beautiful smile and most caring eyes,” she said.
“You are loved by everyone. I will forever miss our girly days out and talking to you about everything.
“You taught me to ‘believe’ in myself and to do my best. I will make you proud mum, I promise. I love you soooo much, more than anything and always will.”
Mrs Lees graduated last year from university and before that had won an award for her work with children with complex mental health issues.
Her mother, Elson Hunter, said: “You achieved such a lot in your life. You were an inspiration to all and should have had a great life ahead of you.”
Paying his own tribute, Mrs Lees’s husband Anthony said: “Lisa you are my beautiful, gorgeous wife. You are my life, my soulmate, my best friend. I love you so much and always will. Life will never be the same again. My heart has been ripped apart.”
Their words were echoed in the overwhelming grief felt by dozens of families who lost loved ones.
Loved ones such as Kelly Brewster, who had just put down a deposit on a new house and had been trying for a baby. “I just want to kiss her again,” her partner, Ian Winslow, said. “I just want to hold Kelly and kiss her again. I miss her so much. We had all of these amazing plans together, and now all that has gone.”
Miss Brewster, a 32-year-old insurance assessor, is thought to have died shielding her niece, Holly Booth, from the blast.
She had taken Holly, 11, to the concert with her sister Claire and they were leaving when Adebi struck. Holly survived with two broken legs and Claire is recovering with a broken jaw.
Mr Winslow, 36, said his daughter from a previous relationship, Phoebe, who is just seven, kissed their TV screen when she saw Miss Brewster’s face appear during a new report.
“These people are monsters to target innocent children and adults at a concert,” he said. “The person who did it was known to the authorities and they should take more robust action.” The reverberations from the blast set off by Abedi were also felt 400 miles away on the Scottish Isle of Barra, home to 14-year-old Eilidh Macleod, who travelled to Manchester for a birthday treat.
She was killed and her school friend Laura Macintyre, 15, is critically ill in hospital having staggered from the scene “badly burned, blinded and with a broken leg”.
Last night Eilidh’s parents, Roddy and Marion Macleod, described her as a “beautiful, intelligent, popular and talented daughter” and described losing her as “undoubtedly the most difficult time of our lives”. They added: “We are at a loss without her.”
Laura’s parents, Michael and Margaret Macintyre, called her a “funny and witty young girl who excels at everything she does”.
“Our hearts and minds have been with Eilidh’s family since we heard their news,” they added.
Stuart Murray, the stepfather of another victim, Martyn Hett, 29, from Stockport, also paid tribute. “I’ve only just realised how many people thought so highly of him, how many lives he touched,” he said.
“To have achieved all that in a short space of time. All that love you leave behind is just priceless.”
Grande has said her “heart, prayers and deepest condolences” are with the victims of the bombing.