Teen survived Manchester Arena terror attack ‘after misreading text from her mum’
Charlotte Fawell took a wrong turn after misreading tragic Wendy's instructions to meet her outside the Ariana Grande concert
A GIRL of 15 who lost her mum in the Manchester attack says she survived because she misread a text telling her where to meet up.
Charlotte Fawell took a wrong turn after following mum Wendy’s instructions to meet her outside Monday’s Ariana Grande concert.
Primary school teacher Wendy, 50, died in the blast while Charlotte — who was 50 yards from the explosion — survived.
Charlotte told The Sun on Sunday: “I read the text wrong. If I’d have gone to the right door, I might not be here now. But I took a door on the left instead.
“I was walking out, a massive bang went off and the entire arena shook. I knew people were dead.
“I was ringing and ringing my mum, hoping she’d been knocked unconscious and she might wake up and answer — but she never did.”
In a furious rant at bomber Salman Abedi, she said: “How would you feel if you were my age and you had no mum? She promised to be here forever and now she isn’t — because of you.”
Charlotte, who was at the gig with boyfriend Lee Davis, 16, did not find out her mum was dead until Wednesday.
Charlotte, from Otley, West Yorks, said: “My mum had been killed in the foyer and Lee’s mum Caroline was seriously injured.
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“I was still ringing her phone. I never gave up hope. On Wednesday, a detective came and said there was a 99 per cent chance they’re not with us any more. I burst into tears. She was my best friend, we did everything together.”
In a tragic twist, Wendy had outlined the funeral she wanted to Charlotte just days before the attack.
She said: “She will get her wish to be cremated and wanted half of her ashes spread at sea in Lyme Regis. She wanted the other half to stay with me.
“I’ll let out all my emotions at the funeral. I’ve decided to write my own eulogy and read it out. I know she’ll be proud of me.”