Manchester Arena Inquiry: Bomb victim spent last moments laughing

A man who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack spent his final moments "laughing and joking", the inquiry into the bombing has heard.

The inquiry heard Stockport's Martyn Hett, aged 29, "did not have a care in the world" before the attack.

It heard he entered the venue's foyer moments before the explosion and had filmed himself singing and dancing.

The inquiry also heard from Paul Price, who was with his partner Elaine McIver, 43, when she was killed in the blast.

The inquiry has been looking at the individual circumstances of the deaths of the 22 people killed at the venue following an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.

Stuart Aspinall, who went with Mr Hett to the show, said that "from the off... Martyn was up and dancing and soon we were all following suit".

He said Mr Hett, who was due to fly to the US for an extended holiday two days later, had been "in really high spirits".

"He was singing at the top of his voice, dancing about without a care in the world," he said.

"It was just a great time to be together."

The hearing was told that after the show, Mr Hett went to the foyer to meet his friends and was filming himself singing and dancing and "laughing and joking" with security guards moments before the bomb exploded.

He was 13ft (4m) away from bomber Salman Abedi at the time of detonation.

Video footage of the aftermath showed Mr Hett laid still on the ground.

He was later covered with t-shirts and a blanket.

Arena first aider Kristina Deakin said when she moved him, she saw a large wound on his neck.

Medical experts concluded Mr Hett died very quickly from multiple injuries that he could not have survived.

Mr Hett's mother Figen Murray and stepfather Stuart Murray said he had had a "tremendous passion for life" and "catching charisma".

"He was a true force for good", they said.

His father Paul Hett and stepmother Kath Hett said his life had been "so vibrant and full of energy" and he had had a "wicked sense of humour".

They added that he "lit up everyone around him".

Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders said Mr Hett had "a zest for life" and brought "happiness to so many people".

"Martyn's spirit is indestructible and will live on in the memories of his family and many, many friends," he added.

The inquiry also heard about the final moments of Elaine McIver, who was in the arena foyer with her partner Paul Price when the bomb exploded.

The hearing was told Ms McIver, who served with Cheshire Police and lived in Frodsham, was 13ft (4m) away from the bomber and despite police officers carrying out CPR, the 43-year-old died at the scene from chest injuries.

Mr Price told the inquiry he saw Ms McIver lying on the floor, but could not get to her due to the serious injuries he had sustained.

He said he could not see any injuries on her, but felt that she had died.

"I would like to thank everybody that tried to help Elaine," he said.

"I have no memory of the people who helped me, but I just want to thank them from the bottom of my heart."

He said Ms McIver was the "love of my life" and had been talking about their future while they waited to pick up Mr Price's daughter and a friend from the concert.

"It was a lovely evening, we were so excited about our future together. We were so in love," he said.

Ms McIver's family said she had a "lust for life" and "would not want to be remembered as a victim".

They said she was "gusto and gung-ho" and a "joy to be around".

Her sister Lynda told the inquiry that "if Elaine was here now, she would want to see rightful justice prevail".

"She would say it was inefficient systems and government agencies who should be brought to account, rather than individuals that were all trying to help on the night," she added.

Sir John said Ms McIver had "represented the very best in our police force".

"It is not only her family's and her partner's loss, but it is also society's loss that she died on this night," he added.

The inquiry continues.

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