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| Manchester Arena bomb victim was failed at every stage, family says | Manchester Arena bomb victim was failed at every stage, family says |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| John Atkinson was among the 22 killed in the deadly attack | |
| One of the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena bombing, who it was found could have survived if he had received the right care, was "totally failed at every stage", his family have said. | One of the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena bombing, who it was found could have survived if he had received the right care, was "totally failed at every stage", his family have said. |
| Manchester Arena Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders said it was "likely that inadequacies in the emergency response" had prevented John Atkinson's survival. | Manchester Arena Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders said it was "likely that inadequacies in the emergency response" had prevented John Atkinson's survival. |
| In a report, he said the response fell "far below" what was expected. | In a report, he said the response fell "far below" what was expected. |
| Mr Atkinson's family said it was clear he "could and should have survived". | Mr Atkinson's family said it was clear he "could and should have survived". |
| Twenty-two people were killed when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a homemade device in the foyer of Manchester Arena as crowds left an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017. | Twenty-two people were killed when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a homemade device in the foyer of Manchester Arena as crowds left an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017. |
| Manchester Arena Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders spoke of "heartbreaking evidence" | |
| Manchester Arena Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders spoke of "heartbreaking evidence" | |
| Delivering the second of three reports into what happened on the night, Sir John said everyone involved in the emergency response "no doubt thought they were doing their best, [but] in some cases . . . their best was not good enough". | Delivering the second of three reports into what happened on the night, Sir John said everyone involved in the emergency response "no doubt thought they were doing their best, [but] in some cases . . . their best was not good enough". |
| He said "significant aspects" of the emergency response "went wrong", adding: "This should not have happened." | He said "significant aspects" of the emergency response "went wrong", adding: "This should not have happened." |
| "Some of what went wrong had serious and, in the case of John Atkinson, fatal consequences for those directly affected by the explosion," he said. | "Some of what went wrong had serious and, in the case of John Atkinson, fatal consequences for those directly affected by the explosion," he said. |
| The inquiry has heard that Ron Blake, a member of the public in the foyer, used his wife's belt as a tourniquet on Mr Atkinson's leg as he lay bleeding in agony on the floor for up to 50 minutes, during which time he told a police officer: "I'm gonna die." | The inquiry has heard that Ron Blake, a member of the public in the foyer, used his wife's belt as a tourniquet on Mr Atkinson's leg as he lay bleeding in agony on the floor for up to 50 minutes, during which time he told a police officer: "I'm gonna die." |
| The 28-year-old was then carried on a makeshift stretcher to a casualty clearing area where he later suffered a cardiac arrest - one hour and 16 minutes after the blast. | The 28-year-old was then carried on a makeshift stretcher to a casualty clearing area where he later suffered a cardiac arrest - one hour and 16 minutes after the blast. |
| Sir John said it was "likely that inadequacies in the emergency response prevented" Mr Atkinson's survival. | Sir John said it was "likely that inadequacies in the emergency response prevented" Mr Atkinson's survival. |
| 'No effective contribution' | 'No effective contribution' |
| Speaking after the publication of the report, Mr Atkinson's family said it was now "clear beyond any doubt" that on the night of the bombing he had been "totally failed at every stage" | Speaking after the publication of the report, Mr Atkinson's family said it was now "clear beyond any doubt" that on the night of the bombing he had been "totally failed at every stage" |
| "It is crystal clear that due to those failings, John died from injuries that he could and should have survived," they said. | "It is crystal clear that due to those failings, John died from injuries that he could and should have survived," they said. |
| "As we know from witnesses, John kept asking if he was going to die. | "As we know from witnesses, John kept asking if he was going to die. |
| "John must have known that he was dying and the pain that causes us is too great to put into words. | "John must have known that he was dying and the pain that causes us is too great to put into words. |
| "This should simply never have been allowed to happen." | "This should simply never have been allowed to happen." |
| They added that an apology they had received from North West Ambulance Service meant "nothing unless they act rapidly on this report to ensure that no family ever has to go through this horrific experience again". | They added that an apology they had received from North West Ambulance Service meant "nothing unless they act rapidly on this report to ensure that no family ever has to go through this horrific experience again". |
| "Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words," they said, adding: "We will be watching to see what happens now." | "Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words," they said, adding: "We will be watching to see what happens now." |
| Sir John said on the basis of the evidence, he could not say that Saffie-Rose Roussos had "absolutely no chance of survival" | |
| Considering the other evidence he heard, Sir John also said he could not rule out the possibility that the youngest victim of the attack, eight-year-old Saffie-Rose Roussos, could have been saved with better treatment. | Considering the other evidence he heard, Sir John also said he could not rule out the possibility that the youngest victim of the attack, eight-year-old Saffie-Rose Roussos, could have been saved with better treatment. |
| He said while it was "highly unlikely" she could have lived, he could not say that she had "absolutely no chance of survival if the most comprehensive and advanced medical treatment had been initiated immediately after injury". | He said while it was "highly unlikely" she could have lived, he could not say that she had "absolutely no chance of survival if the most comprehensive and advanced medical treatment had been initiated immediately after injury". |
| He added that the inquiry had found the other 20 victims suffered injuries that they could not have survived and he was "sure that inadequacies in the response did not fail to prevent their deaths". | He added that the inquiry had found the other 20 victims suffered injuries that they could not have survived and he was "sure that inadequacies in the response did not fail to prevent their deaths". |
| His report also said two of the most senior Greater Manchester Police commanders on the night "made no effective contribution to the emergency response" and highlighted that the force duty officer, who was responsible for initial command, was overwhelmed and overburdened. | His report also said two of the most senior Greater Manchester Police commanders on the night "made no effective contribution to the emergency response" and highlighted that the force duty officer, who was responsible for initial command, was overwhelmed and overburdened. |
| The report went on to make 149 recommendations, which included: | |
| First aid training for all police officers, all firefighters and as many members of the public as possible, with an additional suggestion that first aid training is added to the national curriculum for schools | |
| Armed police being able, where possible, to provide basic life-saving interventions and a consideration being given to the idea of embedding medics in armed units | |
| A review of government departments, including those for health and transport and the Home Office, to ensure there are an adequate number of appropriate stretchers available | |
| More regulation and enforcement to improve the standard of healthcare services at public venues | |
| A review by ambulance service trusts of their capacity to respond to a mass casualty incident | |
| Sir John said within this report and the previous one, which levelled criticism at British Transport Police, the arena operators SMG and their contracted security providers Showsec, he believed that he had "got to the truth of what happened on that dreadful night". | |
| "I also hope fervently that what comes out of this inquiry will make a difference," he added. | |
| Speaking after the report was published, solicitor Kim Harrison, who represents 11 victims' families, said it had confirmed her and her clients' "greatest fears" about the "catastrophic failings" of the emergency services. | |
| Describing the report as damning, she said it was "totally unacceptable" that people were left dying while help should have been on the way. | |
| "The complete and utter failure of the government and emergency services to recognise [the] mistakes [made after the 7/7 bombings in 2005] is wholly unacceptable," she said. | |
| The inquiry, which started in September 2020, will deliver a third and final report that will focus on the radicalisation of Abedi, what the intelligence services and counter-terrorism police knew about him and his family, and if they could have prevented the attack. | |
| Abedi's brother Hashem was jailed for at least 55 years a month before the inquiry began for his part in the bombing. | |
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