Manchester bombing GoFundMe page raises hundreds of pounds within an hour for homeless man who cradled woman as she died after terror attack
HUNDREDS of pounds was raised within just an hour for a homeless man who cradled a dying woman after the Manchester terror attack.
Chris Parker, 33, was hailed a "hero" by social media users after he told how he had rushed to help those caught up in the carnage at the Ariana Grande concert.
Writing on the page, he said: "I like many others have been horrified by the news from Manchester.
"Amongst the sad details one story has stood out for me and compelled me to make an effort to help one of our most vulnerable in society who showed great selflessness and courage.
"This gofundme campaign is for the benefit of Chris Parker, the homeless man who was begging in the foyer of the Manchester Arena when a bomb was detonated and selflessly and heroically ran towards the blast zone to help those affected."
Social media users have hailed Mr Parker a "hero" and thanked him for his "kind actions".
One said: ";Massive respect to Chris Parker, a homeless man who did what he could to help people in Manchester. He has nothing but gave everything".
Kyle Heath said: "I am trying to find Chris Parker a home, we have to show the love by putting his life back on track #homechrisparker".
Mr Parker says he was knocked to the floor when a suicide bomber detonated a device in the venue's foyer, but immediately got back up and began trying to help the dozens of injured.
He recalled: "Everyone was piling out, all happy and everything else. As people were coming out of the glass doors I heard a bang and within a split second I saw a white flash, then smoke and then I heard screaming.
"It knocked me to the floor and then I got up and instead of running away my gut instinct was to run back and try and help.
"There was people lying on the floor everywhere.
"I saw a little girl ... she had no legs. I wrapped her in one of the merchandise T-shirts and I said 'where is your mum and daddy?' She said 'my dad is at work, my mum is up there'."
He said he thought the child's mother had died from her injuries.
Mr Parker, who has slept rough in the city for about a year, said he also tended to a woman aged in her 60s who was badly hurt from the bombing with serious leg and head injuries.
He said: "She passed away in my arms. She was in her 60s and said she had been with her family.
"I haven't stopped crying.
"The most shocking part of it is that it was a kids' concert.
"There were nuts and bolts all over the floor. People had holes in their back.
"It's the screams I can't get over and the smell ... I don't like to say it but it smelled like burning flesh.
"I don't think anything has sunk in yet. It's just shock."
Thousands of youngsters had been at the US pop star’s concert when the blast hit the foyer around 10.35pm last night, killing 22 and injuring 59.
Among the dead is 18-year-old Ariana super fan Georgina Callander and eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos.
Many others have not been seen since last night's attack and worried relatives have flooded social media with appeals to find their loved ones.
A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the attack, which is the worst terrorist incident to hit Britain since the July 7 atrocities.
The arrest was announced moments after Prime Minister Theresa May denounced the "appalling sickening cowardice" of the lone suicide bomber who detonated a homemade device in the foyer of the Manchester Arena just as thousands of young people were leaving.
Declaring that police and security services would be given whatever resources were needed to track down any accomplices of the attacker, Mrs May vowed: "The terrorists will never win and our values, our country and our way of life will always prevail."
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: "With regards to the ongoing investigation into last night's horrific attack at the Manchester Arena, we can confirm we have arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester."
Counter-terrorism agencies have mounted a major operation to establish the circumstances of the attack and the bomber's background.
Andrew Parker, the Director General of MI5, said everyone at the agency "is revolted by the disgusting terrorist attack".
He added: "Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, the injured and everyone affected by it.
"Our teams have been working with the police through the night to assist the investigation.
"We remain relentlessly focused, in numerous current operations, on doing all we can to combat the scourge of terrorism and keep the country safe."
The Islamic State group has since claimed responsibility for the attack.
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