Dozens of children and teenagers, separated from their parents in last night’s attack in Manchester, were led to safety by a member of the public.
Paula Robinson, 48, of West Dalton, told Reuters how she led a group of around 50 kids away from the Manchester Arena following the attack that killed at least 22 people and injured 59.
Robinson took the children to a nearby hotel and posted her mobile number on social media, inviting parents to contact her if they couldn’t get through to their child.
“Parents were frantic running about trying to get to their children,” she told Reuters. “There were lots and lots of children at Holiday Inn.”
Parents looking for children in #Manchester: Call Paula Robinson, children have been taken to Holiday Inn. Call 07896711298. RT pic.twitter.com/YC1fze58hk
— Christine Beswick (@bychristinebswk) May 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/AmyLou_Cotter/status/866792082471563264
In a post on Facebook that was widely circulated, Robinson wrote: “We have got about 50 kids with us waiting to be picked up, they are safe we will look after them.
“Please re-post for any parents with children at MEN [Manchester Arena]. We have taken as many kids as we can to Holiday Inn we will keep them safe and stay with them.”
Robinson’s heroics have been widely praised across Twitter.
https://twitter.com/FxxlXnTheHill/status/866809917436571650
https://twitter.com/honestIydrew/status/866792534349160448
PaulaRobinson you are an incredible person to take terrified kids to a place of safety, a beacon in the darkness of this horror#Manchester
— Guy Hamilton (@atterse) May 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/_MickeyPreedy/status/866931693164396545
Robinson has since confirmed that she is no longer with the children and that concerned parents should contact the emergency help line rather than herself or the Holiday Inn.
Contact 0161 856 9400 if you are concerned about anyone missing in the Manchester Arena area.
