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The Manchester Arena Inquiry has now concluded. The closure notice from the Inquiry Chairman is available here.

Volume 2: Emergency Response
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  2. Volume 2: Emergency Response
  3. Part 9: Remembering those who died
  4. Saffie-Rose Roussos

Download report

Volume 2 is divided into two sub-volumes: Volume 2-I and Volume 2-II. Volume 2-I is 695 pages long. Volume 2-I begins with a Preface and then continues with Parts 9 to 16. Volume 2-II is 189 pages long. It contains Parts 17 to 21 and the Appendices. A list of the names of the twenty-two who died is at page vii of Volume 2-I and at page iii of Volume 2-II.
A large format version combining Volume 2-I (ia, ib and ic) and Volume 2-II is also available.
Volume 2-I (standard format)
download (pdf: 16.79 MB)
Volume 2-II (standard format)
download (pdf: 1.26 MB)
Volume 2 (large format)
download (pdf: 4.65 MB)

Saffie-Rose Roussos

Saffie‑Rose Roussos was the daughter of Lisa and Andrew Roussos.349 She was the younger sister of Ashlee Bromwich and Xander Roussos.350 Saffie‑Rose was eight years old at the time of her death on 22nd May 2017.351

Saffie‑Rose was a girl with a very bright future ahead of her. Although quiet in class, from a young age “she came alive when she could dress up and role play”.352 Later, at school discos, that quiet little girl “became confident whilst dancing and singing”.353 She had a love of gymnastics. I heard how she was full of energy and would constantly be practising gymnastic routines, jumping on her pogo stick and even climbing telegraph poles.354 She found joy in everything she did and brought a great deal of happiness to those around her.355

Saffie‑Rose had bravery and strength.356 “‘Couldn’t do it’ wasn’t Saffie’s style” and the bangs and injuries that came from the backflips and somersaults never stopped her.357 All she ever wanted was a “cuddle and kiss” to make things better.358

Lisa remembers her daughter as being a “pure, gentle, beautiful soul who touched people’s hearts with her kindness and infected people with her smile”.359 Her father described her as “perfection” and remembers “her beauty, big brown eyes and smile” and how spending time with her felt like “magic”.360 She had a way with people who were drawn to her amazing magnetic personality.361 She was so loved by her family and friends.

Events of 22nd May 2017

Saffie‑Rose received tickets to the Ariana Grande concert as a Christmas gift.362 She was ecstatic to receive the tickets, to finally be going to see her “idol” along with Lisa and Ashlee.363 She would talk about it all the time, “it was just the conversation of every day” at home.364

On 22nd May 2017, Saffie‑Rose returned from school and got ready for the concert.365 She wore an Ariana Grande Dangerous Woman Tour T‑shirt and carried her Ariana Grande handbag.366 Andrew recalls waving Saffie‑Rose, Lisa and Ashlee off and that he had never seen Saffie‑Rose so excited.367 She was “on cloud nine”.368

Ashlee recalls having a good time at the concert and dancing with Saffie‑ Rose.369 Lisa told of watching Saffie‑Rose “jumping up and down” and “dancing all the way through” the concert. She spoke of how lovely it was to watch Saffie‑Rose and Ashlee dance together and how happy Saffie‑Rose was.370

They left their seats at the end of the concert.371 Saffie‑Rose, holding her mother’s hand, entered the City Room from the concourse area at 22:30:45.372

Footnotes

352 9/38/22, 9/39/18-23, 9/40/6-8