Concert mum: 'I just focused on getting my daughter to safety'

Reporter: Rosalyn Roden
Date published: 23 May 2017


A FAILSWORTH mum told of the panic which broke out as she and her 11-year-old daughter were caught up in the blast last night.

Jennifer Crabtree (46) was seated with her daughter Lauren on the top tier of the Manchester Arena when the bomb went off.

Jennifer suffered stomach and thigh bruises as a result of the panic. She and her daughter are in shock.

She said: "Ariana's last song was played, she walked off the stage and then suddenly a loud bang was heard.

"Everyone was pushing to get down the stairs. People were running and falling. It was sheer panic as people couldn't get out of the building."

Screaming
As they left the building Jennifer described a stream of oncoming police cars arriving down Trinity Way.

Jennifer added: "People were screaming and crying. My daughter went into shock. I have bruising starting to appear on my stomach and thighs, I guess from being crushed and falling. I just focused on getting me and my daughter to safety."

Hazel Buckley spoke out about last night's attack as she and her daughter recover from the shock.

Mum Hazel, who studied at Oldham Lifelong Learning Centre, said: "It was chaos ­- true bedlam. People were getting crushed. There were teens there on their own. My daughter and her friends were in total fear, fighting to get out, not knowing what was coming next."