A GREENOCK mum caught up in the Manchester bomb attack has relived the horrifying moment when she had to flee for her life.

Traumatised Chelsea Aitchison, who has a one-year-old son Jayden Alexander, was watching her idol Ariana Grande at the city’s indoor arena when it was hit by the terror attack on Monday night.

The 19-year-old was at the concert with her best friend Nicola Lamplugh when a suicide bomber killed 22 people and injuring 59. 

Chelsea told the Greenock Telegraph how she thought she was going to die as she frantically tried to escape the carnage.

Chelsea, of Prospecthill Street, said: “One of the first things I did was phone my mum to tell her to tell Jayden that I loved him.

“I thought I was never going to see him again.”

Chelsea had just enjoyed the closing stages of the concert when suddenly there was a huge explosion.

Student Chelsea said: “All we heard was this massive bang.
“The whole arena went silent for about five seconds and then there was just screaming everywhere.

“People started to run in every direction, they were jumping over bannisters. 

“I remember a woman falling over and someone in front of me covered in blood.

“I ended up with blood on my dress.

“Children were screaming, shouting for their mums. 

“I kept thinking I was going to run into danger, another bomb going off, or there was going to be a shooter there.

“I just kept seeing my baby’s face. My best friend told me to go in front, to save myself, because I was a mum.

“When we were trying to get out you could smell this awful smell of death.”

Chelsea and Nicola tried to cling together but ended up separated in the crowds. When they eventually found each other, Chelsea, who is studying social sciences, said: “We hugged each other for the longest time.”

But there was carnage all around them as people made frantic calls to loved ones and emergency services rushed to the scene.

Once she was a safe distance away Chelsea phoned her mum Michelle Ross, 46, to tell her what had happened.

Her frantic mum said: “Chelsea told me a bomb had went off, but at that time there was nothing on the news.

“She told me to tell Jayden that she loved him.”

Meanwhile Chelsea and Nicola tried to make it back to their hotel amid chaotic scenes.

Chelsea added: “There were just police and ambulances everywhere.

“We walked back to our Travelodge about half an hour away.

“All the taxis were taking the children away, to get them out of there.”

Back at the hotel Chelsea and Nicola couldn’t stand to be isolated in their room, so they spent the night in the lobby with others who were at the concert.

She added: “We just wanted to be with other people.”

A kind-hearted stranger, Joanna Forrester, gave them train tickets so they could get home and Chelsea and Nicola returned to Scotland on Tuesday.

Grateful Chelsea said: “The next day there was just absolute chaos where ever you went – everything was shut. We had bus tickets but the bus station was closed. I can’t thank Joanna enough. She would have given us a lift home if she could.”

Although she is now home safe the 19-year-old is suffering from flashbacks and trauma.

She said: “You think, how could an eight-year-old die and we made it out?

“There was a little boy, he was four or five, beside us.

“He left with his mum to go and buy merchandise, which was where the bomb went off.

“We don’t know if he made it.

“You keep going over it in your head – could we have done more?

“But you just need to get out.I have been to the Manchester Arena twice before.

“I felt safe there.

“Nicola and I have been everywhere but mostly London, that is how me met.

“The concert was really busy and full of little girls everywhere.

“I don’t think I will ever be able to go anywhere with big crowds again. 

“I can’t sleep or eat, I can’t close my eyes.”

When she got home to Greenock Chelsea had an emotional reunion with her son.

She said: “It was the best feeling in the world.
“I had never really left him before.”

But she now has a new perspective on things after seeing such terrible tragedy unfold in front of her eyes.

She said: “I am a person who lives life to the full.

“But I will never complain about anything again.

“I never thought I was scared of death until I came face to face with it.”

Chelsea is keen to thank the people who helped her in the aftermath of the attack.

She added: “It has been overwhelming, people I don’t even know sending me messages. We would like to thank the people of Manchester.

“The love they showed for us was incredible, even though we are not from there - they couldn’t do enough to help us.
“It is a truly amazing city.”