A man selling posters tried to keep an eight-year-old girl alive in the Manchester Arena terror attack for 30 minutes before she sadly died, an inquiry into the bomb attack has revealed.
The report, published on Thursday, detailed how Paul Reid heard the blast and called 999 before trying to help Saffie-Rose Roussos for more than 30 minutes.
Saffie-Rose was the youngest of the 22 people cruelly murdered by terrorist Salman Abedi, who detonated a homemade shrapnel-laden bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande Concert at the venue.
The report also found that Saffie-Rose was one of two victims who did have a chance of survival if they had better medical care. Her parents say the emergency services "let her down".
The girl’s mum Lisa, 50, 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.”
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.”
Asked if accepted the apologies from the emergency services, Andrew added: “No, I don’t.
“What I do expect is for them to be honest... and admit to the failings. I’ve heard for the last two years [since the inquiry began], excuse after excuse, that that night went well – but it didn’t.”
The report detailed how Mr Reid had received first aid training at work and underwent a refresher training prior to the attack on May 22, 2017.
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 8 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.”
The inquiry heard that Saffie-Rose was one of two victims who did have a chance of survival if she had better medical care.
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.
Today's hearings began and ended with a minute's silence to remember those who died.
Their photographs were displayed in the hearing room at Manchester Magistrates' Court at the start of the public inquiry as their final movements were outlined - where they were when Salman detonated his bomb in the City Room foyer, the extent of the medical treatment given, and the details of their injuries.
The inquiry heard only three paramedics went into the City Room after the attack.
And 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 today's findings come 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.
"After initially believing the blast had killed Saffie instantly, the pain of that loss was compounded by learning that she had lived for over an hour.
"Even more distressing was learning that their little girl had asked if she was going to die, something no parent should have to hear."
She continued: "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 serving life behind bars for his part in the plot.
