Hollie Booth, 13, was shielded from the blast by her protective aunt Kelly Brewster, 32, who was tragically killed by terrorist Salman Abedi in the Manchester Arena last May after watching Ariana Grande.
And on Saturday night’s episode of Britain’s Got Talent, the incredibly brave teen returns to the city where 22 people were killed and hundreds were injured to bravely audition with her dance group RISE.
The inspirational hopeful still uses a wheelchair after suffering two broken legs in the attack, as well as nerve damage, and has undergone 11 operations with more in the future.
Inspirational: Hollie Booth, 13, returns to the city where 22 people were killed and hundreds were injured to bravely audition with her dance group RISE on Saturday’s Britain’s Got Talent
In order to honour Holly and Manchester, the girls – aged between 10 to 24, perform in wheelchairs as they dance to a medley of Ariana Grande songs while wearing Manchester bee t-shirts.
The brave teenager reveals to the judges – Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon – that this is the first time she’s returned to an arena since the horrific incident.
She says: ‘It’s always difficult coming back to Manchester. This is the first place I have been like an, not like an arena, but it is a bit.’
Emotional: The brave teenager leaves troubled presenter Ant McPartlin in tears with her powerful performance
Brave: Holly still uses a wheelchair after suffering two broken legs in the attack, as well as nerve damage, and has undergone 11 operation
In May 2017, after Ariana Grande performed at Manchester Arena, Salman Abedi detonated a homemade explosive device, killing 23 people and injuring over 500, 59 of which were hospitalised.
Concert-goers, mainly children and young people, ran for their lives as the bomb detonated at the end of her performance, around 10.30pm.
Abedi, 22, used an explosive device packed with nuts and bolts to ensure maximum impact on his victims.
Holly survived the horrific incident but it is now reliant on her wheelchair.
Powerful: In order to honour Holly and Manchester, the girls perform in wheelchairs as they dance to a medley of Ariana Grande songs while wearing Manchester bee t-shirts
Hero: The brave teenager reveals to the judges – Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon – that this is the first time she’s returned to an arena
During the powerful performance, which leaves all the judges emotional as Holly stands up from her wheelchair and puts her fist in the air, troubled presenter Ant McPartlin is reduced to tears.
As the girls perform, Declan Donnelly is also left touched, as he admits: ‘Oh God, it gets you. Doesn’t it?’
While Ant starts crying as he wipes away tears and adds: ‘It does, doesn’t it. Yeah, I know.’
Amazing: During the powerful performance, which leaves all the judges emotional, Holly stands up from her wheelchair and puts her fist in the air
Tears: The routine leaves Simon emotional as he chokes up and says: ‘fact I salute you!’
The presenter, who is currently in rehab and has stepped down from his TV commitments, is then comforted by Holly’s friends and family.
While Simon is equally moved by the audition as he chokes up and says: ‘Holly, this is difficult, to get through what you went through and come out here and turn a negative into a positive is actually quite unbelievable.
‘What these people did, they’re cowards, and the fact that you can come on stage and do what you did and make such a positive statement with your friends, I’m very proud of you. In fact I salute you.’
Emotional: Ant, who is currently in rehab and has stepped down from his TV commitments, is then comforted by Holly’s friends and family in the pre-recorded scenes
Talented: The episode also sees a stand-up comedian, who is unable to speak following complications with cerebral palsy, leave the judges in hysterics through a voice synthesizer
While the four judges even go backstage to congratulate them, as the girls burst into tears over the sweet gesture.
The episode also sees a singing priest, a stand-up comedian who is unable to speak following complications with cerebral palsy and a pair of daring acrobats.
Britain’s Got Talent continues on Saturday at 8pm on ITV.
Wow: Saturday’s programme also shows a singing priest who auditions
Look away!: While a pair of daring acrobats leave the judges on the edges of the chairs