Saffie’s mum wakes up
Lisa Roussos now aware of daughter’s death in Manchester attack
THE mother of the youngest victim of the Manchester suicide bomb attack, Saffie Roussos, eight, has woken up and is aware of her daughter’s death, according to a family friend.
Lisa Roussos, 48, attended the Ariana Grande concert with Saffie and was hospitalised along with her elder daughter, Saffie’s half sister Ashlee Bromwich, 25.
Mrs Roussos is understood to have undergone two operations for her injuries sustained in the blast, but is ‘pulling through’.
Family friend Mike Swanson, who has been asked to be the family spokesman, said she had been moved off her life support machine and is conscious.
A massive display of floral bouquets, balloons and flowers has been left outside the fish and chip shop in Lancashire, run by Mrs Roussos’s husband Andrew, 43.
Well-wishers have been desperately hoping the girl’s mother and sister survive the serious shrapnel injuries they suffered and have been waiting anxiously for news.
Mr Swanson, 38, said: ‘The news about Lisa being out of danger is the biggest we’ve had since the start.
‘She was in a critical condition at first, but she came off life support on Saturday and was up and talking on Sunday.
‘She’s aware of the situation with Saffie. She’s still in hospital, but she’s moving her legs, which is fantastic. Lisa’s pulling through and it’s really important people know that.
‘Ashlee is remarkably well. She went to a different hospital to her mum with wounds, but it looks like she might be out as early as Wednesday.’
‘Andrew has been so strong. He’s not wanted to grieve until he knew his wife was going to be okay. He’s been a machine all week.’
Mr Swanson, who runs a computer shop next to the Roussos family chip shop, was involved in the search for Saffie with the family.
The father of two, whose daughter Lily was best friends with Saffie, has now been asked by the girl’s father Andrew to handle fundraising donations, cards, and information to the public.
‘Me and Andrew are very close and I was there from the very beginning when this all happened,’ he added.
‘It’s been hell since last Tuesday. I had to come home and tell my little girl that her best friend was not coming back.
‘To take the weight off Andrew’s shoulders I’ve been dealing with all the cards and sorting out piles and piles of messages to Saffie and the family.
‘I’m also going to open a charity account for funds. Money is coming in from everywhere, I get calls everyday. Yesterday I collected about £9,000 or £10,000 just from people’s pockets.’
Local residents have rallied round to support the family, and hundreds of bunches of flowers have been left as a memorial to the little girl outside the chip shop where she used to play.
‘Andrew’s been overwhelmed by it all, he said he didn’t know these people were out there,’ said Mr Swanson.
‘I’m so proud of him, he’s so commendable. Every time I’ve been to see him he’s given me the strength to inform the people of Leyland.
‘People have been asking me about how they’re doing, and I’ve been able to talk positively because of him. It’s been bloody amazing that someone in his position can be like that.’
The Roussos family, originally from Limassol in Cyprus, first lived in Southport with their children, Saffie and Zander, 10, attending Tarleton Primary School. When they moved later to Leyland, the children remained at the school. Headteacher Chris Upton described Saffie as ‘a beautiful little girl in every aspect of the word’.
‘She was loved by everyone and her warmth and kindness will be remembered fondly.
‘Saffie was unassuming with a creative flair,’ added Mr Swanson.
Big sister Ashlee is also well