Manchester Arena attack hero dies in road crash
Darron Coster gave first aid to some of those injured in the City Room
An ex-military policeman hailed a hero for helping victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack has died following a road collision.
Ex-serviceman Darron Coster used his training from 22 years in the Royal Military Police (RMP) to assist casualties in the City Room foyer where the bomb was detonated at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.
On Monday, Sir John Saunders, the chairman of the public inquiry into the attack, said they had received the "very sad news'' that Mr Coster died last week.
Mr Coster, who retired from the RMP in 2008, told the inquiry earlier this year he had served tours of Northern Ireland, so was familiar with the aftermath of bomb explosions and had basic first aid training.
He had gone to pick up his son and his son's friends after the concert that night.
Mr Coster made several laps of the room in assisting people.
He used a man's belt and a woman's handbag strap as tourniquets to stem the bleeding of a couple who had suffered leg injuries, and then helped a young man with serious facial and torso injuries.
Sir John said:
"At the end of last week we had the very sad news that Darron Coster had died last Wednesday July 14 following a road traffic collision.
"As you will recall Darron gave evidence to the inquiry on April 15 of this year.
"Darron Coster worked for the Royal Military Police for 22 years, retiring in 2008.
"He then worked in planning and organising security for military events.
"On May 22 2017 he went to pick up his son and two others from the Ariana Grande concert.
"He had arranged to meet them at the bottom of the concourse steps.
"He was waiting there when the explosion took place.
"Having texted his son to make sure that he and his friends were safe he went and did what he could to help in the City Room.
"He assisted those who were injured.
"Because of his training in Northern Ireland he had experienced explosions in the past.
"He knew how to help those who had suffered blast injuries.
"He applied improvised tourniquets to some of the more seriously injured.
"He encouraged other uninjured people who didn't have his medical skill to sit with the injured, talk to them and give to them what assistance they could.
"He remained in the City Room doing what he could in that vital first half-hour to a hour and then went to find his son.
"I described him at the conclusion of his evidence as a hero for what he did on the night of May 22 2017 and I don't think that anyone could or would disagree with that description.
"His former commanding officer has been in touch with the inquiry since his death.
"He described how very proud his former colleagues and his family are of him.
"He, this commanding officer, says that 'lead by example' is the motto of the Royal Military Police and the commanding officer remarks that is what Darron did on that dreadful night.
"I am sure that we would all agree with that.
"He leaves a wife Alison and a son Charlie and the thoughts of all us connected to the inquiry are with them as they try to cope with his loss.
"His actions on May 22 will live on in the memories of many.''