The first of the 22 victims of the bomb blast at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena has been named as 18-year-old Georgina Callander.
The explosion (which police now believe to be the work of a suicide bomber) occurred at roughly 10:30pm Monday night local time, – just as the concert had finished – killing 22 and injuring at least 59.
According to ‘The Independent‘, Callander lived in Whittle-le-Woods in Lancashire, attended Runshaw College in Leyland and was described by her friends as “a living angel“.
Runshaw College issued a statement expressing their sympathy to her friends and family and offering counselling:
“It is with enormous sadness that it appears that one of the people who lost their lives in Monday’s Manchester attack was one of our students here at Runshaw College.“Georgina Callander was a former Bishop Rawstorne pupil studying with us on the second year of her Health and Social Care course.“Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to all of Georgina’s friends, family, and all of those affected by this loss.“We are offering all available support possible at this tragic time, including counselling with our dedicated student support team.”
Just the day before the concert, Callander had tweeted about how excited she was:
@ArianaGrande SO EXCITED TO SEE U TOMORROW
— gina ?? today! (@emiliesatwell) May 21, 2017
Callander had a photo taken with Grande in 2015:
The remaining victims of the attack are yet to be identified.
Rest in peace Gina. I love you so incredibly much, you deserved the world & more. I’m so lucky to have met you and known you ?? #manchester pic.twitter.com/sPrHq9I6M0
— liana (@lianasarfati) May 23, 2017
Photo: Instagram / @Georgina.Bethany.
