22 People were killed, and more than 60 injured in what police believe to be a suicide bombing attack at an Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.
YouTube
The pop sensation drew a crowd of nearly 20,000 fans to the Manchester Arena—many of which were young girls—but no one could have expected the sheer terror that would follow.
Following the deadly explosion—which could be felt for blocks outside the arena—video footage shows people of all ages fleeing in panic, heading every which direction in an effort to find safety.
Paula Robinson and her husband were at a Manchester train station near the arena when they too experienced the shaking and noises of the explosion.
The 48-year-old let her mama-bear instincts take over as she and her husband ran directly toward the blast.
She ran from the train station to the arena and immediately became an answered prayer to dozens of teenage girls, who had become separated from their friends and families inside.
Paula made it her mission to get as many of those teens as possible to safety. She took 50 kids to a nearby hotel before sharing her phone number on social media, and pleading with others to help her reunite the children she’d collected back with their parents.
Twitter
“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.”
Paula is now being hailed the “Angel of Manchester,” for obvious reasons.
“I’ve had hundreds of hysterical parents asking me if their children are OK” – Paula Robinson, who helped kids to safety in a hotel pic.twitter.com/v1lKKONK51
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) May 23, 2017
During a time when so many of us are heartbroken and at a loss for the victims and their families, it’s beautiful to be able to share the selfless acts of others. Paula’s response was truly heroic, and we’re praying that all of those children are safely reunited with their families.
