Manchester Arena Inquiry: Family thank people who helped victims

The family of a mother killed in the Manchester Arena bombing have thanked the people who tried to help her in the "appalling" aftermath of the atrocity.

Lisa Lees, 43, was among 22 people killed in the May 2017 bombing.

The public inquiry heard Ms Lees was standing next to her friend Alison Howe, who was also killed as they waited in the arena foyer to pick up their daughters.

The court also heard details about the deaths of Wendy Fawell and Nell Jones.

The inquiry heard how Ms Lees, from Oldham, was standing approximately 13ft (4m) away from Salman Abedi when the device was detonated.

Two members of the public, Michael Byrne and Rob Grew said in their statements they had seen Ms Lees struggling to breathe while she was lying on the floor.

The inquiry heard a woman, Jolene Smith, who was nearby described looking across at Ms Lees and seeing that her "beautiful" face was not moving.

Ms Lees died from multiple injuries which were unsurvivable, the inquiry was told.

Pete Weatherby QC, representing her family, said: "Lisa's mum Elaine has asked me to record publicly the thanks of her and the wider family for those that did their best to attend to Lisa in those appalling circumstances."

Her husband Anthony told the inquiry that she was "the most positive and definitely the most beautiful person that I have ever met".

Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders said: "She had given a great deal, but she had so much more to give."

The inquiry went on to hear about 44-year-old Ms Howe, from Oldham, who could be seen on CCTV lying on the floor alongside her friend Ms Lees.

A member of the public put Ms Howe into the recovery position before Showsec employee Jade Samuels and a British Transport Police (BTP) officer Jane Bridgewater both carried out chest compressions.

The hearing was told Ms Howe suffered multiple injuries and died from a significant head injury.

Sir John said: "Alison played an enormous part in her extended family, she has been described as the glue that held them all together.

"What happened on 22 May 2017 has left an enormous gap in their lives.

"She also brought happiness to a large circle of friends. She had worked in the past as a nurse, she was a force for good."

The inquiry heard that 14-year-old Nell Jones, from Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, went to the concert with her friend, who had bought her the ticket.

After leaving the show, the pair walked into the arena foyer 17 seconds before the bomb exploded.

Nell was 6.5ft (2m) away from the bomber and was seen lying face down on the floor after the explosion.

The inquiry heard travel safe officer Philip Clegg twice tried to talk to Nell but got no response.

By 22:55, her body had been covered by two jumpers.

The inquiry was told Nell died at the scene from multiple injuries that were unsurvivable.

In a statement read to the court, her family said: "From the moment she was born, there was something special about Nell.

"Every day was an adventure for Nell and her energy and passion for life lit up their days."

Sir John said Nell "had a successful and happy life, opening out in front of her, she had everything".

"She had very good friends and enjoyed life to the full and made the best of everything. To lose all that is a tragedy and is so unfair," he said.

Wendy Fawell, a 50-year-old mother from Leeds, entered the foyer of the arena 36 seconds before the bomb went off.

She was standing 16ft (5m) from the bomber, having separated off from her friend so as not to miss their children coming out of the concert.

The court heard Ms Fawell was seen on CCTV in the seconds after the explosion, lying on the ground and not moving.

Several people approached her over the next few minutes and tried to rouse her, including travel safe officer Philip Clegg, arena first aider Elizabeth Woodcock, Showsec stewards Amy Barratt and Robert Atkinson, and BTP Sgt Peter Wilcock, but she did not respond.

The inquiry heard Ms Fawell died of an unsurvivable head injury.

Sir John said Ms Fawell, an after school club manager, had "loved children" and many had benefited from her care

"She died as she lived, doing things for other people," he said.

The inquiry continues.

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