A mum has spoken out on how her daughter was 'let down' before dying in the Manchester Arena bombing. Saffie-Rose Roussos' mum Lisa, who is originally from St Ann's in Nottingham, said emergency services could have saved her daughter after she was severely injured in the terrorist attack on May 22, 2017.
Saffie-Rose was the youngest of the 22 people murdered by terrorist Salman Abedi, who detonated a homemade shrapnel-laden bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande Concert at the venue. As reported by The Mirror, a report into the attack which was published on Thursday, found that Saffie-Rose was one of two victims who did have a chance of survival if they had better medical care.
Mrs Roussos, who herself was was left in a six-week coma by the suicide bombing, said: “I believe in my heart she would have survived had she been the given correct medical attention she needed. It was the emergency services that let her down.” The report detailed how poster seller Paul Reid heard the blast and called 999 before trying to help Saffie-Rose Roussos for more than 30 minutes.
Saffie-Rose’s dad Andrew said: “Saffie fought for her life but she was bleeding to death. Saffie fought that night, but unfortunately she was let down.
"Badly, badly let down. It’s beyond belief to listen to how many mistakes occurred. It’s so hard to listen to all the excuses.”
He added: “Our nightmare carries. It doesn’t end.” Mr Reid stayed with little Saffie-Rose for 31 minutes.
The inquiry heard she was five metres away from the bomber at the time of detonation. In a statement from August 2019, British Transport Police Sergeant Peter Wilcock described finding Mr Reid trying to comfort Saffie-Rose as she lay on the floor.
He recalled: ”At first I thought the girl was dead as her eyes appeared to be grey. I knelt down next to him and gave the girl’s shoulder a gentle shake.
To my surprise, her eyes moved and I comforted her, telling her that an ambulance was on its way. The female’s injuries looked extremely severe and she appeared to me to be slowly slipping away.
"The male told me that the girl was eight years old and I remained with him, offering her reassurance. I tried to look at the injuries that the female had suffered but her clothes were torn and she had blood covering her legs, which made it impossible to establish what the injuries were, particularly in the dark and chaos of what was happening.
"I was initially at a loss about how to help her other than offering her and the male comfort and trying to get her to hold on.” Police Sergeant Wilcock was aware that there was a lack of proper bandages and the supplies of first aid equipment were running low, the inquiry heard.
He said: ”A female wearing a stripy dress arrived within a minute or so and explained she was a nurse. She made efforts to give the girl first aid and asked me to get more bandages.”
Sir John Saunders, chair of the public inquiry, said the majority of those who died were so badly injured they could not have survived. But he said that Saffie-Rose and John Atkinson, 28, did have a chance.
Overall and objectively, the performance of the emergency services "was far below the standard it should have been", he added. The hearings began and ended with a minute's silence to remember those who died.
The inquiry heard only three paramedics went into the City Room, where the bomb was detonated, after the attack. Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took more than two hours to attend the Arena.
In his second report into the atrocity, Sir John said: “I have concluded that one of those who died, John Atkinson, would probably have survived had the emergency response been better.”
He added: “In the case of Saffie‑Rose Roussos, I have concluded that there was a remote possibility that she could have been saved if the rescue operation had been conducted differently.”
Nicola Brook, a solicitor from Broudie Jackson Canter who represents Saffie's family, said the report's findings came as a "devastating blow".
She said: “Saffie’s parents Andrew and Lisa have pushed to get answers about what happened to their beautiful daughter over five and a half incredibly traumatic years. To finally learn today that Saffie was denied medical care that had the potential to save her life, is a devastating blow.
"However, it is a testament to their strength that they have taken comfort that the daughter they loved so much fought for life until the end. The family is comforted that the chair has made recommendations to help close the care gap that may have made all the difference to Saffie.”
The 884-page report also paid tribute to the “heroic” actions of ordinary members of the public who joined police and security and medical teams trying to save lives in a “war zone”. It said responsibility for the deaths lies with suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, and his brother Hashem, 25, who is currently is serving life behind bars for his part in the plot.
The Chief Constable of British Transport Police, Lucy D’Orsi, said their “preparation and planning was inadequate”, and she was “truly sorry” to all those affected.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, Dave Russel, appeared to become emotional as he said the service’s response to the bombing will “forever be a matter of deep regret for our service”.
He added: “I do feel sadness and I do feel ashamed.
Daren Mochrie, chief executive of North West Ambulance Service said: “On occasions like this, the word sorry has the risk of sounding hollow. Nevertheless, I want to make it clear that while our actions were well-intentioned, we apologise wholeheartedly for our failures.”
Sir John’s first report on security issues at the Arena was issued last June and highlighted a string of “missed opportunities” to identify Abedi as a threat before he walked across the City Room and detonated his shrapnel-laden device.
The third and final report will focus on the radicalisation of Abedi and what the intelligence services and counter-terrorism police knew, and if they could have prevented the attack. It will be published at a later date.
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