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GCSE: Sister of Manchester bomb victim Martyn Hett gets 11 A*s

Martyn Hett’s sister gets 11 A* GCSEs

The sister of Manchester bomb victim Martyn Hett has been described as a "hero" for getting 11 A*s in her GCSEs.

Martyn, 29, from Stockport, was one of 22 people who died when a homemade bomb was detonated after an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May.

Nikita, 16, took an exam the day after finding out her brother had died, while the family were "completely numb".

She said: "I didn't want to let what's happened stop me. Martyn would want me to do it and do it well."

Family handout Martyn HettFamily handout
Martyn Hett was one of 22 people who were killed in the Manchester Arena attack

Nikita, who took other exams in the days after the terror attack, said: "Loads of people were at my house so I sort of wanted to get out anyway."

She thinks Martyn would've been very pleased with her results.

"He'd be so happy, he'd be tweeting about it. He'd be more excited than I am," she said.

Her brother Dan Hett said on Twitter she was "an actual hero" and "the toughest person I have ever met".

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He recalled the day after Martyn was confirmed as one of the victims: "We were obviously completely numb, fried, drained. We'd been through something absolutely unreal and were all trying to figure it out.

"I came downstairs and Nik was sat on the stairs in full school uniform, tying her shoes. I couldn't understand why, I didn't even know what day it was at that point, it had been such a horrific few days."

'Be inspired'

He said he was "utterly amazed" and "floored" the Stockport Grammar School pupil was putting her shoes on "so she could go and sit a bunch of GCSEs".

In a series of tweet, he wrote: "Under the most horrific conditions, after going through (and continuing to go through) it all, [Nikita] didn't skip a beat...Sleeves rolled up, get it done. Nothing wasted despite it all."

"I have never been more proud or amazed by anyone. In conclusion: my kid sister is the toughest person I have ever met. don't mess with her. Be inspired."

Peter Byrne/PA Wire Crowds gathered to pay their respectsPeter Byrne/PA Wire
Crowds gathered outside Stockport Town Hall for Martyn Hett's funeral

Nikita told the Press Association she was halfway through her exams when the attack happened.

"When we didn't know where [Martyn] was, I was just thinking that I should probably revise just in case we found him.

"I thought if we did find out [he had died] I won't end up doing it but, just in case we find out he's fine and it's a misunderstanding, I should probably revise."

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Head teacher Andrew Chicken said: "We are delighted for Nikita and her family. She has achieved exceptional results and her determination in the most distressing of circumstances is truly inspirational.

"Nikita very much wanted to continue with her exams and we worked closely with her parents to support her in this."

Martyn Hett attended Priestnall High School in Heaton Mersey, graduating in 2005.

He was a Coronation Street superfan and was interviewed on television about his tattoo of the character Deirdre Barlow.

Stars from Coronation Street were among hundreds who attended his funeral.