Christmas gift that turned to terror, injured mum and daughter saved by getting their coat
A MOTHER who bought tickets for the Ariana Grande concert for her daughter as a Christmas present saved both of their lives by spending 30 seconds putting her jacket on.
Lisa Arnott, 42, and her daughter Jade, 15, of Whitley Bay, Northumbria, were in the foyer of the Manchester Arena when Salman Abedi detonated an IED.
Before they went to the exit of the sold out Ariana Grande concert, Lisa told her daughter to wait 30 seconds as she put her jacket on.
She said: “That 30 seconds saved our lives.
We knew straight away it was a bomb and I could see the blood splattered over her face
“As we walked into the foyer there was just a huge bang and an orange light, my ears were ringing, it was smokey. I saw people lying on the floor.
“Jade turned to me and said ‘Oh my god mam’, we knew straight away it was a bomb and I could see the blood splattered over her face.”
She added: “It was horrific, just horrific, I saw people lying all over the floor.”
Abedi killed 22 people as 119 others were injured, including 20 critically.
On Tuesday morning, the mother and daughter went to Cramlington Hospital in Northumbria where they were treated for their wounds from the shrapnel from the bomb.
Mrs Arnott said: “I am still in shock, we were so close, we were there in the room.
“It’s just horrendous for the families who have lost people. what they must be going through.
Bomb disposal unit arrives in Hulme, Manchester
"It's something you never think will happen to you in your lifetime."
Manchester Police have said that the families of all those who have died and been injured have been informed, but it could take five days to officially name victims.
Two men were arrested in the early hours of this morning following a search of an address in the Withington area of Greater Manchester.
Eight people in total have been arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation.