Terror victim Martyn Hett's mum: 'He'd love the attention'

The mother of one of the Manchester terror victims has claimed her son would think "he's finally made it to stardom".

Figen Murray suggested Martyn Hett, 29, would "absolutely laugh and think it's amazing" his life was being so widely remembered in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing.

Mr Hett, a PR manager from Stockport, was one of 22 victims killed by attacker Salman Abedi at the end of an Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.

Since his death, Mr Hett's status as a 'super-fan' of Coronation Street - including his tattoo of soap character Deidre Barlow - and his appearances on TV reality shows have been fondly recalled.

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Pop superstar Mariah Carey has also paid tribute to Mr Hett, who was a fan of the US singer.

His stepfather Stuart Murray claimed the events of the past week were "just so Martyn".

Speaking alongside his wife Figen, Mr Murray said: "We're upset because of him passing away but we are all agreed this is just so Martyn.

"This is the sort of thing he does ... there was always a crisis or a disaster."

Mrs Murray agreed there was "always chaos" with her son, adding: "He'd absolutely laugh and think it's amazing, he's finally made it, to stardom. He'd love it."

She revealed she has "not been crying and sobbing and breaking down" following her son's death, explaining: "When I think of Martyn all I can think of is smiling, because I have just so many fond and really happy memories, comic memories - him taking the mickey (out) of me."

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Describing the number of messages the couple have received following Monday's attack, Mr Murray said: "I've only just realised how many people thought so highly of him, how many lives he touched.

"It is just simply staggering what I'm hearing. Most of us will never be able to achieve that, so to have achieved it is all you would ever want in life.

"All that love you leave behind is just priceless, absolutely priceless."

Mrs Murray revealed a girl who had been with Mr Hett at the concert had been in touch to describe how her son had "really enjoyed himself" in the last moments of his life.

She said she had "no feelings of hate" towards Abedi, adding: "I don't think this person deserves any of those emotions.

"I'm staying with my positivity for Martyn and that's what I want to hold on to."

On Thursday, Carey posted a picture of Mr Hett wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with an image of herself and said she was "devastated" to hear of his death.

Mr Hett had been days away from embarking on a two-month trip to the US before his death.