Manchester bombing: 23 still in critical care with 'horrific' injuries after arena suicide attack

Twenty-three people are still receiving critical hospital care after the Manchester Arena suicide bombing.

At least five children were among the patients being treated for “horrific” injuries on Friday after Salman Abedi murdered 22 people and wounded 116 by blowing himself up near the venue's exit.

Among them was 15-year-old Laura MacIntyre, of the Outer Hebrides, who was left fighting for life by the nail bomb that killed her Eilidh MacLeod, 14, at Monday night's Ariana Grande concert.

Sixty-six bombing victims remained in eight hospitals across Greater Manchester on Friday, NHS England said.

Some have "life-changing injuries" and will need care for years to come, according to head of the city's health services.

Jon Rouse, chief officer of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, said: "There are still a number of individuals receiving treatment and care – as would be expected following an attack like this. Some of this care is critical care, meaning patients require intensive and constant support and monitoring. We are also providing support to families during this difficult time.

"The NHS and care organisations together with partners across the voluntary sector will be providing care and support for individuals in the weeks, months and years to come. Some individuals will now have life-changing injuries which will require the support of the NHS and partners for a long time."

He added: "We’re dealing with injuries to major organs, we’re dealing with loss of limbs potentially, we’re dealing with embedded objects, all the horrific injuries that you would expect from the event that happened."

Hospitals were on the brink of being overwhelmed by the “extraordinary” number of people with critical injuries in the aftermath of the attack, doctors have said.

Twenty of those still in critical care on Friday were at Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester Children's Hospital, Salford Royal, which were each treating five patients, and Wythenshawe Hospital, which was treating six.

The mother of eight-year-old Saffie Roussos, the youngest person killed in the bombing, is thought to be among those still critical. Lisa Roussos, 48, was unconscious in intensive care and was said in Thursday to be unaware her daughter had died.

NHS England said the fact the patients remained in critical care did not mean they were all in a critical condition.

Dr Peter-Marc Fortune, a consultant in paediatrics at Manchester Children’s Hospital, said it was “a number of hours” before all the injured children were identified after the bombing.

He said: "I can’t imagine what their parents were going through but actually it was remarkably hard – not having a clue of the name of the person you were looking after and not knowing where their parents were to be able to talk to them and share with them actually what was going on.,That was really difficult."

Dr Steve Jones, an A&E consultant at Manchester Royal Infirmary, said the staff “pulled together in a very impressive way”.

Medics worked through the night and came in on days off to treat the victims, many of whom had suffered injuries similar to being in a car crash, he added.

“It potentially had the ability to overwhelm what we were doing,” he said.

Laura MacIntyre's family on Thursday thanked medics as they kept a vigil at her hospital bed

In a statement, they described the teenager as "strong-willed and a fighter", adding: "We know that Laura is in the best possible place and is receiving the best care that she can.

"Laura and her friend Eilidh were so looking forward to the concert, but that night has now ended in a tragedy where Eilidh has lost her life and Laura is in a critical condition.

"Our hearts and minds have been with Eilidh's family since we heard their news."