Emergency worker diagnosed with PTSD after helping Manchester Arena victims 'denied compensation'

An emergency service worker who helped victims at the scene of the Manchester Arena terror attack and was later diagnosed with PTSD has been denied compensation, it is claimed.

The explosion on May 22, 2017, killed 22 people and left hundreds of others with catastrophic injuries - both physically and mentally. Since the attack, over 800 claims have been made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which is responsible for making awards to victims of crime and terror attacks.

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But a Freedom of Information request submitted by Hudgell Solicitors showed that of 741 applications for physical and mental injuries, 331 have not resulted in a financial award. One of those includes an application from an emergency service worker who was one of the first responders at the traumatic scene on the night of the explosion.

They had been based at a nearby building when the attack happened, and helped treat victims at the scene with 'severe injuries' as well as some who tragically died. The worker, who has asked to remain anonymous, has since been diagnosed with moderate to severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a direct result of what they witnessed that night.

But it's claimed an application to the CICA for an award based on mental health injuries was rejected. It's understood the reason given for the unsuccessful claim was that the emergency worker was not a "direct victim" as they were not present at the scene when the bomb went off. Nicola Bailey-Gibbs, solicitor and Manager of Criminal Injuries at Hudgell Solicitors, who represents the emergency worker, is involved in challenging the decision.

"In this case, my client, an emergency