Leeds charity's appeal is backed by Manchester Arena bombing survivor who felt 'abandoned' after blast

Paul Price, 55, suffered catastrophic injuries six years ago during the explosion as he and his partner Elaine McIver waited for his 13-year-old daughter and friend to come out of the Ariana Grande concert. He spent nearly nine months in specialist hospitals and had 35 procedures for his injuries, which included severe burns, broken bones, loss of hearing and embedded shrapnel, which remains in his groin, pelvis and back.

Paul spent the first 12 days in an induced coma and a further two weeks in and out of consciousness as he battled to stay alive. He later learned that the love of his life, Elaine, 43, and a serving police officer with Cheshire Police, had died at the scene.

Despite efforts from hospital staff, family, and friends, Paul says he felt “abandoned”, “lonely” and “overwhelmed” as he came to terms with his injuries, and life without Elaine. He has now shared a detailed account of his recovery.

The terrorist attack killed 22 people, including Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, from Adel, Leeds; Courtney Boyle, a 19-year-old Leeds Beckett University student, and Wendy Fawell, 50, from Otley. It also injured more than 1,000.

Paul said that he has finally found the support he has been missing thanks to Leeds charity Day One Trauma Support. However, the organisation has expressed fears that it cannot reach thousands of vulnerable people who may need its help.

Since 2014, it has supported around 3,000 people. During the first four months of this year it has already supported more than 400 people, more than half the total number of people it supported during the whole of 2022. The charity has also seen demand for its emergency grants increase by 100%.

It provides families with financial support to help with unexpected costs such as parking, travel and accommodation so loved ones can remain nearby. In 2022 it provided £38,000 in grants, but has already given out more than £26,000, with the total for the year expected to reach nearer £100,000 as more people struggle during the cost-of-living crisis.

That is why Paul is backing Day One Trauma Support’s £100k in 100 Days appeal, so it can meet demand for the thousands of people who suffer injuries caused by incidents such as car crashes, falls from heights, stabbings, farming accidents and explosions. Every year around 25,000 people are admitted to UK major trauma wards with life-changing injuries, which is the equivalent of one person every 20 minutes.

As well as emergency grants, the charity provides counselling, legal, benefits and welfare advice, and peer support from those who have been through similar situations. Day One has partnered with four NHS trusts, including in West Yorkshire, to provide bed-side support to patients and families.

Paul is currently benefiting from the charity’s peer support service and plans to become a volunteer himself so he can share his experiences with others who suffer life-changing injuries.

He said: “The past six years have been an ordeal, to say the least, but all my injuries pale into insignificance to the loss of Elaine and the losses other families experienced that night. What surprised me was the lack of support in place for people like me who had suffered such horrific injuries. I was amazed that something like Day One Trauma Support didn’t exist in every hospital as standard.

“When someone suffers life-changing injuries, their world collapses and you need someone who understands what you’re going through. If I’d had Day One by my side, the journey that I’ve been on and continue to travel would not have felt so lonely and overwhelming.

“I’m fortunate to have wonderful family and friends around me, but I still felt alone and abandoned. I had to process my life-changing injuries on my own. I felt the world was happening outside my window, but I wasn’t living it.

“It took me all these years to discover Day One Trauma Support and I wish I had known about the charity earlier. I have benefited massively from speaking to a Peer Support Volunteer who has been there and understands the physical battle, but also the impact on my mental health. I can talk about things that I couldn’t to my family and friends.

“I would have benefited from Day One’s support years ago and it makes me sad that not everyone knows they are there for them. You don’t have to do this alone. One of the hardest things I found was the lack of continuity between hospital and home. I was terrified of leaving the security of 24-hour care. The world around me had changed and I had changed, physically, and emotionally. I couldn’t go back to my house and live on my own - I had to live with my elderly parents. We had to find things out on our own.

“Now I’ve found Day One, I’m passionate about ensuring other people don’t have to go through what I did on their own. It’s really hard at times, but I know Elaine would want me to live the best possible life and that’s exactly what I want for anyone else who experiences injuries like mine.”

Lucy Nickson, CEO at Day One Trauma Support, said: “It’s a travesty that Paul didn’t get the support he needed when he needed it most. Our NHS is amazing at putting people back together after suffering catastrophic injuries, but there is a massive gap in the system, which means everyday people like Paul are being let down.

“As Paul’s story highlights, surviving is just the start. In the briefest of moments, people’s lives are shattered and it’s too much to piece it back together on their own. We believe no one should be left to rebuild their life on their own, but we can’t reach everyone at the moment. Our own services are stretched and demand for our support is growing as people are struggling to cope with the costs of major trauma during a cost-of-living crisis.

“That’s why we need help so we can be there for them, from day one and for as long as it takes. Please support our appeal, if you can, to ensure no one is left to rebuild their life on their own following a catastrophic injury.”

More information about Day One Trauma Support’s appeal is available on the charity’s website.