An eight-year-old who was injured in the Manchester bombing and later described as ‘so strong’ by Ariana Grande says she doesn’t think of herself as brave.
Lily Harrison, from Stockport, spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a shrapnel wound and bruised lung after the attack on May 22.
While in hospital she was surprised with a visit by Ariana Grande who told her: ‘I’m so proud of you. You are so strong. You are doing really well.’
Six months on from the horrific attack Lily has finally been able to resume karate lessons.
Lily Harrison, from Stockport, spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a shrapnel wound and bruised lung after the attack on May 22, was chosen to open a new karate dojo in the city
On Saturday Lily officially opened her karate teacher’s new shitoryu karate dojo in Cheadle on Station Road.
But when asked why she had been chosen by Paul Ferris to cut the ribbon, Lily said she didn’t know.
And asked if she was brave she shook her head and said ‘I don’t really do that many things.’
Her Mum, Lauren Thorpe, said: ‘When she came back she was due to have her grading for her next grade up and she hadn’t been able to go.
‘She was so worried about being left behind, but Paul [her karate teacher] said ‘don’t worry, I’ve seen how you are’.
While in hospital she was surprised with a visit by Ariana Grande who told her: ‘I’m so proud of you. You are so strong. You are doing really well’
‘It’s made them closer and it’s made her love karate even more. She was so keen to be back, I don’t think we even realised how much she loved karate until she was missing it.
‘We’ve kind of been pushing for her to get back to [karate] as soon as possible to get back to normal.
‘We didn’t want her to focus on what happened, we wanted to let her be one of the normal kids.’
Crowds gather in St.Ann’s square to lay floral tributes and messages to the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing
Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and more than 500 were injured in the terror attack
Getting back to normal life fro Lily has meant returning to gymnastics and karate lessons and starting school again.
Her mother Lauren says the family have always been honest with Lily about what happened to them.
Lauren said: ‘From day one in the hospital all the counsellors said to us you need to be really honest and open with Lily, you can’t hide it from her, she’ll hear about it on the TV or from her friends and she’ll overhear your conversations.
Medics deploy at the scene of the terror attack during the Ariana Granda concert in Manchester on May 23
Two concert-goers wrapped in thermal blankets stand outside the arena after bomber
Salman Abedi is believed to have travelled to Syria and become radicalised before returning to the UK to cause carnage at a gig in the city where he was born
‘You don’t want her to be scared to ask you questions and you want her to be able to trust you. We had to treat her like she’s quite grown up which is strange because she’s so young.’
Lily had been at the Arena with her mum and dad, Lauren and Adam, when the terror attack hit.
All three were injured but are now fully recovered.