$34K Raised For Homeless Man Who Rushed To Help Manchester Blast Victims

By

Published

May 23, 2017

A homeless man who rushed to help those seriously wounded in the Manchester Arena blast has been recognised, and a fundraising page in his honour has already collected more than $34,000.

Chris Parker, 33, was in the foyer area of the venue when the blast occurred. Parker, who has previously asked concert-goers for change after events, said he was knocked to the ground by the explosion.

When he realised what was happening, Parker told The Guardian “I got up and instead of running away my gut instinct was to run back and try and help.” When he reached the site of the blast, he saw “people lying on the floor everywhere.”

Parker attended to a young child who “had no legs. I wrapped her in one of the merchandise T-shirts and I said: ‘Where is your mum and daddy?’” He said he thought the girl’s mother, who also attended yesterday’s Ariana Grande concert, had died due to the explosion.

In another instance, Parker held an older woman who “passed away in my arms.” After the incident, Parker said “I haven’t stopped crying.”

Stephen Jones, another rough sleeper who was in the vicinity at the time of the tragedy, said he “saw children coming out, screaming and covered in blood.” He described “having to pull nails and bits of glass out of their arms and faces.”