Local News

This woman led 50 children to safety after the Manchester terror attack

Amid the many acts of kindness that followed the terror attack at Manchester Arena, one woman's response stood out.

Good Samaritan Paula Robinson, 48, was hailed as an “amazing woman” and “angel of Manchester” after she rescued 50 traumatized teens and children escaping the horror of the explosion at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester that killed 22 people.

Paula was with her husband at Victoria train station next door to the stadium at just after 10.30pm, when she saw “dozens” of screaming girls fleeing the site where 22 people were killed and scores more injured in a suicide attack.

She told Reuters that she “ran out” of the area immediately after the blast and “got the teens to run with me”.

She directed the distraught group of youngsters away from the arena and gathered them at a nearby Holiday Inn hotel.

“Parents were frantic running about trying to get to their children,” she said. “There were lots and lots of children at Holiday Inn.”

Victoria station was evacuated immediately after the attack, which left lots of kids stranded as their parents – who had either been waiting for them outside or got separated during the rush – desperately searched for them.

Amid the ensuing chaos and a transport lockdown, families turned to social media to track down their loved ones.

Paula quickly posted a message on her Facebook page, sharing her number and appealing to panicked mums and dads to pick up their children.

“We have got about 50 kids with us waiting to be picked up, they are safe we will look after them,” she wrote.

“Please re-post for any parents with children at MEN [Manchester Arena]. We have taken as many kids as we can to Holiday Inn we will keep them safe and stay with them.”

Her post was widely shared on Twitter, as families scoured for information on the whereabouts of their nearest and dearest.

Paula spent the next few hours caring for her group, while fielding phone calls from stricken parents.

Many on social media have described her as a hero, whose prompt and selfless reaction to the attack was carried out entirely without regard to her own safety.

Once she had the children safely in the hotel, Paula’s response continued to bring reassurance to many.

The attacker behind the explosion struck at the end of the evening, just after pop star Arianna had finished her set, and as thousands of young fans streamed out of the stadium.

Witnesses recall scenes of panic and a stampede, with around 21,000 people rushing to exit the arena following “a massive bang and a big cloud of smoke” in the foyer area.

“Suddenly there was this big bang in the block next to us. Everyone started screaming and we nearly got trampled on. There was a burning smell,” concert-goer Sophie Tedd, 25, from Darlington told the Guardian.

The confusion continued as the crowds of children and young teens made it out of Manchester Arena.

“As we got outside, lots of police came racing towards the area and the whole of the Victoria train station was surrounded by police,” said another eyewitness, Hannah Dane.

She said there were people “screaming and crying everywhere shouting that there’s a bomb and also people were saying there’s a shooter”.

The 22 victims of the bombing, which include an eight-year-old girl, have started to be named.

Among his victims were eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos, who attended the concert with her mother Lisa and sister Ashlee Bromwich.

Saffie has since been described by her school as “simply a beautiful little girl in every aspect of the word.”

“She was loved by everyone and her warmth and kindness will be remembered fondly. Saffie was quiet and unassuming with a creative flair,” Chris Upton, her headteacher, said.

Her mother and sister are currently being treated for injuries in hospital, according to friends.

https://twitter.com/MetroUK/status/866993198811492352/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nowtolove.com.au%2Fnews%2Flatest-news%2Fmanchester-bomber-named-as-first-victims-are-identified-37688

Earlier, Georgina Callander, 18, was confirmed as another fatality.

Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the “sickening cowardice” of the attack, but paid tribute to those who rushed to help, saying their actions “embody the spirit of Manchester and the spirit of Britain”.

This story first appeared on Lifestyle One

Loading the player...

Related stories