'If my story helps just one person it’s worthwhile' - The Arena bombing survivor and crash victim sharing heartbreaking stories

A Manchester Arena bombing survivor, motorbike crash victim, and long Covid sufferer have shared their heartbreaking stories in a bid to help others in recovery.

The trio are among nine people who have told their stories for RISE: Stories of Healing and Hope, a week-long outdoor exhibition supported by the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance (MIHP) in St Ann’s Square. In April 2021 Keiran Griffiths, from Openshaw, was on his morning commute when he was knocked off his bike in a near-deadly crash that left him with “horrific” injuries.

The 34-year-old said: “My right leg was basically destroyed and I found out later that I had brain damage caused by the impact on the bonnet. I got told that if I hadn’t had the correct motorbike gear on I would have died on the scene.”

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Keiran was in hospital for three weeks and was then discharged but left “bed bound”. His wife took on the role of his full time carer. At the time she was on maternity leave after giving birth to the couple’s youngest son nine months prior.

Keiran, who has two other children, said: “Our youngest son is now three. Hopefully he doesn’t remember what I was like before or what I was like straight after the crash because I was quite bad. The crash ruined me mentally and I felt like I was bringing everybody down. I was ruined as a person.

“It’s hard when you have people caring for you when you’ve always been the one that people have called for help but you can’t help yourself.”

After more than 12