Prince William made a surprise visit to the Manchester bombing first-responders
In the wake of the recent bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, many people have been looking for ways to show their support, and the Duke of Cambridge is no different. It’s been reported that Prince William has visited with the first-responders who were on the scene of the terrorist attack.
Prince William arrived at the Greater Manchester Police HQ to meet officers who were among the first to respond to the bombing — which left 22 people dead and more than 100 injured.
While there, he took the time to speak to members of the local community and officers present, including Officer Michael Buckley, who was off duty on the night of the bombing and waiting for his daughter who had been at the concert. Michael Buckley told a heroic and harrowing tale of frantically trying to find his daughter in the chaos while tending to injured and dying victims.
HRH chats to some of the GMP first responders, including the officers who were first on the scene at Manchester Arena. pic.twitter.com/fl6zNhqeje
— The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 2, 2017
Thankfully, the off-duty officer eventually found his daughter in a nearby hotel — she was okay, but suffered from minor crush injuries and a concussion.
William also spoke to some of the first detectives on the scene and a police officer who responded from the street to dash to the scene. Chelsea Meaney, a young response officer, who had only been in her post for 18 weeks. While sharing her experience, she said,
"It was not what I was expecting, I had been told there were four injured people upstairs. It was a bit of a shock to the system but we didn’t have much time to think about it, we just had to help."
According to the Kensington Royal twitter account, the Duke of Cambridge wrote a note in a book of condolence at the city’s cathedral, “Manchester’s strength and togetherness is an example to the world. My thoughts are with all those affected.”
HRH signs the Book of Condolence at Manchester Cathedral, and pays tribute to the city's "strength and togetherness." pic.twitter.com/KY8vTpejXn
— The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 2, 2017
After spending the morning with the first-responders, the Duke then visited Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital to privately meet with families who have been affected by the attack. William also met Ventnor Brewer, studio manager of the Sacred Tattoo Studio in Chorlton, one of the tattoo parlours which has been offering bee tattoos to raise money for victims of the bombing.
It was the efforts of these brave men and women that quite possibly prevented the loss of even more lives. We definitely share the prince’s sentiments.
