The Manchester bombing victims: their stories
The Manchester bombing victims: their stories, One was just 8. Others were teenagers. Some were middle-aged parents waiting to pick up their children from the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena in northern England that was hit by a suicide bomber on Monday evening.
On Wednesday, an increasing number of the 22 killed in the attack were identified, their fates confirmed by families and friends. Here are their stories:
Georgina Callander
The first victim to be named was a huge fan of singer Grande, with whom she once proudly posed for a picture, which she posted to social media.
The death of Callander, 18, was confirmed by Runshaw College, an educational institution in Leyland, a small town about 34 miles northwest of Manchester, that she was attending.
In 2015, Callander posted a picture of herself posing alongside Grande on Instagram.
On Monday before the show she sent a Twitter message to Grande: "So EXCITED TO SEE YOU TOMORROW."
Callander was in the second year of a three-year health and social care course at Runsaw. The London Evening Standard reported that she died in a hospital in Manchester with her mother by her side.
Saffie Rose Roussos
Roussos, the second victim to be named was just 8.
A teacher at Tarleton Community Primary School, about 40 miles north of Manchester, described her as a "beautiful little girl in every aspect of the word" in a statement issued through Lancashire County Council. "She was loved by everyone and her warmth and kindness will be remembered fondly. Saffie was quiet and unassuming with a creative flair.”
The girl was at the concert with her mother, Lisa, and her older sister, Ashlee, who are both reportedly being treated in hospital.
John Atkinson
Online messages for Atkinson, 26, paid tribute to an “amazing young man," according to The Bolton News, a northwestern England newspaper that's part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.
Tracey Crolla said: "Thinking of all the Atkinsons at this very sad time. John Atkinson you turned into an amazing young man so kind and thoughtful you will be missed by everyone." Rishi Shori, leader of the council in Bury, also in the Manchester area, said Atkinson's death is "incredibly tragic."
Olivia Campbell
Charlotte Campbell had appealed on social media and on TV for help in finding her 15-year-old daughter, Olivia, who was missing during the chaos.
Early Wednesday, her mother announced her death on Facebook. "RIP my darling precious gorgeous girl Olivia Campbell taken far far to[o] soon. Go sing with the angels and keep smiling mummy loves you so much," she wrote.
Kelly Brewster
Brewster, 32, was from Sheffield, a city about 40 miles east of Manchester. Her boyfriend, Ian Winslow, announced her death on Facebook. “Kelly really was the happiest she has ever been and we had so many things planned together. My daughter Phoebe will be absolutely devastated like we all are," he wrote.
Alison Howe and Lisa Lees
Howe, 45, and Lees, 47, two friends from Royton, a Manchester suburb, were killed as they waited to collect their daughters from the concert.
Late Tuesday, a relative of Howe wrote on Facebook: “They took a caring beautiful mum and step mother away from us all she was amazing to us all x love you loads Alison Howexx,” The Guardian reported.
Lee Hunter, Lees' brother, wrote in a Facebook post: “For those who don’t know, Lisa is gone but never, ever forgotten. I love you Lisa. I’ll miss you so much.”
Angelika and Marcin Klis
Poland's foreign minister said the Polish couple, 40 and 42, who lived 70 miles away in York, were killed as they waited to collect their two daughters from the concert.
"The parents came after the concert to collect their daughters and unfortunately we have information that they are dead. The children are safe," Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski told Polish radio station RMF FM on Wednesday. "We are appealing to Poles living in Manchester to take extra care and follow the advice of local authorities," he said.
Martyn Hett
Hett, a 29-year-old from Stockport, a southern suburb of Manchester, went missing after he became separated from friends at the concert, according to The Guardian.
On Wednesday, his brother, Dan, tweeted: “They found my brother last night. We are heartbroken.”
Hett’s partner, Russell Hayward, also posted on social media, saying, “We got the news last night that our wonderful iconic and beautiful Martyn didn’t survive. He left this world exactly how he lived, centre of attention. … I love you Martyn. I always will. X”.
Nell Jones
On Wednesday morning, Britain's Independent reported that 14-year-old Jones, who lived in a village about 20 miles from Manchester, was among the dead.
One of her classmates was also "badly injured" in the blast, the principal of her school, Holmes Chapel Comprehensive, told the newspaper.
The principal, Dennis Oliver, told the Daily Express that "I have just done six assemblies to tell the pupils. Children are all over the place crying. We are all devastated. The heart wrenches for me and everyone else.”
Contributing: Jane Onyanga-Omara in London and Matthew Diebel in New York.
