Off-duty police officer and eight-year-old girl among Manchester bombing victims

OFF-DUTY policewoman Elaine McIver was among the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena terrorist atrocity.

The youngest person known to have died is eight-year-old Saffie Roussos, who was at the concert with her mother.

Here is what we know so far about the victims:

Saffie Roussos

The youngest known victim of the atrocity, eight-year-old Saffie had been at the concert with her mother, Lisa Roussos, and sister, Ashlee Bromwich, who is in her 20s, from Leyland, Lancashire.

They are in separate hospitals being treated for injuries, friends said.

Chris Upton, head teacher of Tarleton Community Primary School in Lancashire, said: “Saffie was 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.”

Elaine McIver

The family of off-duty Cheshire Police officer Elaine McIver have said “she would want us all to carry on regardless and not be frightened by fear tactics”.

Ms McIver was among the 22 people killed when Salman Abedi set off a home-made suicide bomb in the foyer of Manchester Arena, and her partner Paul was injured in the attack.

In a statement issued through Greater Manchester Police, Ms McIver’s family said: “Elaine was a much-loved daughter, sister, auntie, friend and colleague, the best we could ever have wished for.

“She was everyone’s friend, thoughtful beyond belief, with an effervescent and outgoing personality …

“Despite what has happened to her, she would want us all to carry on regardless and not be frightened by fear tactics; instead she regularly urged us all to rise up against it.”

Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry

The teenage couple from South Shields were “perfect in every way for each other” and “wanted to be together forever”, their families said in a joint tribute.

Friends and relatives of Miss Rutherford, 17, and Mr Curry, 19, had issued desperate appeals for information after failing to make contact with the pair following the attack.

Mr Curry, a former pupil of Gateshead College, was studying for a degree in sport and exercise science at Northumbria University. His father Andrew died in March aged 49.

In a joint statement released through Greater Manchester Police, their relatives said: “On the night our daughter Chloe died and our son Liam died, their wings were ready but our hearts were not.

“They were perfect in every way for each other and were meant to be. They were beautiful inside and out to ourselves and our families, and they were inseparable.”

Martyn Hett

The family of Stockport PR manager Martyn Hett called him the “icon of all our lives” following his death in Monday’s terror atrocity.

Mr Hett, 29, who had appeared on TV shows Come Dine With Me and Tattoo Fixers, was killed just days before he was to set off on a two-month trip to the US.

His devastated family said he “just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time”.

In a statement through Greater Manchester Police they added: “We are overwhelmed with the amount of lives he has touched and the kind words that are being said about him.

“Martyn was the icon of all our lives.”

Sorrell Leczkowski

The 14-year-old girl from Adel, Leeds, died after the concert attack which also left her mother and grandmother seriously injured in hospital.

Her heartbroken grandfather Michael Healey said the aspiring architect was the family’s “rock”, calling her “a clever, talented, creative girl – there was nothing she couldn’t do”.

Mr Healey said that Sorrell, her mother and grandmother had gone to the arena to collect two girls who had gone to the concert.

Sorrell’s mother Samantha remains in hospital recovering from surgery and trying to “make sense of the devastating loss of her daughter”.

Her grandmother Pauline – Mr Healey’s wife – remains in intensive care and has undergone 15 hours of surgery to remove shrapnel from her body and address multiple compound fractures to her arms and legs.

Eilidh MacLeod

Scottish schoolgirl Eilidh was a “vivacious” youngster and “full of fun”, her family said following confirmation of her death in the attack

The 14-year-old, from Barra in the Outer Hebrides, was at the concert with friend Laura MacIntyre, 15, who was seriously injured and remains in hospital.

Her family said they were “devastated” at their loss, saying: “Eilidh was vivacious and full of fun. She loved all music, whether it was listening to Ariana or playing the bagpipes with her pipe band.”

Eilidh and Laura were pupils at Castlebay Community School and their headteacher said the incident has left everyone in shock.

Annag Maclean said: “Our school and island community are in shock, feeling numb and struggling to come to terms with it. Our thoughts and prayers are with Eilidh and Laura, their family and friends as they struggle to cope.”

A fund set up for the families of the two girls has raised almost £20,000.

Olivia Campbell

Olivia, from Bury, Greater Manchester, was among the first victims to be named.

The 15-year-old went to Tottington High School and had been to the concert with her friend Adam, who has received treatment in hospital.

Olivia’s family spent Tuesday frantically searching for her, but in the early hours of Wednesday Charlotte Campbell revealed her daughter had died in the blast.

Alongside a photo of Olivia she wrote on Facebook: “RIP my darling precious gorgeous girl Olivia Campbell taken far far too soon go sing with the angels and keep smiling mummy loves you so much.”

Ms Campbell asked crowds at a vigil on Wednesday evening not to let the atrocity “beat any of us”.

Georgina Callander

Georgina, from Chorley, was in her second year of studying health and social care at Runshaw College in Leyland, Lancashire, and had previously been a pupil at Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy.

The college, which confirmed her death, spoke of its “enormous sadness”, saying: “Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to all of Georgina’s family, friends, and all of those affected by this loss.”

 

Megan Hurley

Schoolgirl Megan is also understood to be among the dead.

She was a former pupil of Halewood Church of England Primary School in Liverpool.

The Liverpool Echo reported that the chairman of governors from the school attended a memorial service to the bombing victims at St Nicholas’ Church in Halewood on Tuesday, where he said Megan’s brother was also seriously injured.

Michelle Kiss

Ms Kiss, from Lancashire, was “a loving wife to Tony, mother to Dylan, Elliot and Millie, as well as daughter to Mick and Christine and sister to Nichola”, her family said.

They added: “She has been taken away from us, and all that love her, in the most traumatic way imaginable. We hope to draw from the courage and strength she showed in her life to get through this extremely difficult time.”

Ms Kiss’s daughter was pictured being comforted by a police officer in the immediate aftermath of the attack, according to The Sun.

Kelly Brewster

Ms Brewster, from Sheffield, was reported by friends and family to be among those killed in the attack.

Her partner, Ian Winslow, wrote on Facebook: “Not sure how this works but it isn’t good news. Kelly Brewster wasn’t one of the unidentified hospital patients. She has sadly passed away in the terror attack yesterday.

“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.”

Angelika and Marcin Klis

Believed to be a Polish couple who died after going to Manchester Arena to collect their daughters from the concert.

Polish foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski told a Polish radio station on Tuesday: “The parents came after the concert to collect their daughters and unfortunately we have information that they are dead. The children are safe.”

On Tuesday York College student Alex Klis said she was looking for her parents Angelika and Marcin, who had been missing since the attack.

In a post on Facebook she wrote: “Anyone who is in any safe place or hospital in Manchester, if anyone comes across my parents please please let me know as they’ve been missing ever since the attack.”

John Atkinson

Mr Atkinson, 26, from Bury, was named by friends on Facebook as a victim.

A fund for his family set up by friends has raised around £5,000.

Hayley Turk, who organised the fund through website GoFundMe, wrote: “John was one in a million and loved by so many. A true gentleman.”

Alison Howe and Lisa Lees

Ms Howe, 45, from Royton, Greater Manchester, was reported missing by relatives along with her friend Ms Lees, and they are now thought to be among the dead.

A family member wrote on Facebook late on Tuesday: “They took a caring beautiful mum and step mother away from us all she was amazing to us all x love you loads Alison Howe xx”

Nell Jones

Nell, 14, was a “bright and popular” schoolgirl who died at the scene of the blast on Monday evening, her school in Cheshire said.

Denis Oliver, head teacher at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive and Sixth Form, said: “We are all devastated by the loss and as a school community we must now come to terms with what has happened.”

Jane Tweddle

The school receptionist and mother-of-three was a “a truly wonderful friend and colleague”, according to the principal of the school where she worked.

Ms Tweddle, 51, of Blackpool, was at the arena waiting for a friend’s daughter when the blast happened, according to her husband Mark Taylor, who told BBC Radio Lancashire she was “a lovely lady and a very good mother to three daughters”.

Jane Bailey, head of South Shore Academy in Blackpool, said: “Jane was a truly wonderful friend and colleague to all of us at South Shore Academy. As our receptionist, she was in many ways the public face of the school and she represented us amazingly in this role.”

She was the wife of ex-Hartlepool United player Mr Taylor. The club tweeted: “We are so sorry to learn that former Poolie Mark Taylor lost his wife Jane in Manchester attack. Thoughts with him, his family & friends.”

Wendy Fawell

Ms Fawell, a mother from Otley in West Yorkshire, was named as a victim of the attack as tributes flooded on to social media.

She was reported to have gone to the concert with her daughter and friends, and was last seen in the arena’s foyer shortly before the blast.

Ms Fawell was mourned on Facebook by a friend who posted: “I am heartbroken beyond belief. I have lost my best friend and confident Wendy Fawell. A beautiful lady who I will have treasured memories of. Nite god bless sweetheart. Love you to the moon and back xxxx.”

 

Courtney Boyle and Philip Tron

It has been confirmed that Leeds Beckett University student Courtney Boyle, 19, and her stepfather Philip Tron, 32, died in the attack.

Courtney’s mother, Deborah Hutchinson, said in a statement: “My stunning amazing beautiful daughter, you were my rock you made me so proud with all you had achieved.

“My gorgeous, crazy, Philip, you made my world a happy place and now you are both my angels flying high in the sky.”

Miss Boyle’s father Rob Boyle said: “I am going to miss my baby girl Courtney Boyle for the rest of my life.

“I will never forget you and I will love you forever. Grandad Bob misses you loads also.”