PA MediaA survivor of the Manchester Arena bombing who was left paralysed from the waist down has met Coronation Street stars as the show features a character who has just suffered a spinal injury.
Martin Hibbert and his wife Gabby met Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs in the ITV soap, and his on-screen wife Fiz Stape, portrayed by Jennie McAlpine, to share their insights on “life after injury” as a married couple.
Coronation Street fans recently watched mechanic Tyrone suffer a spinal cord injury in a hit and run, leaving him unable to walk.
“I’m so impressed that Coronation Street has chosen to tell this important story,” said Spinal Injuries Association vice-president Mr Hibbert.
Mr Hibbert was among those standing closest to the suicide bomber when he detonated his homemade device at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds more.
He suffered 22 shrapnel wounds and required life-saving surgery at Salford Royal Hospital.
His spine was severed by shrapnel, leaving him with a T10 complete spinal cord injury and paralysed from the waist down.
Mr Hibbert said: “Spinal cord injury can happen to anyone, at any time, and having such a big TV programme shine a light on the realities of living with it will make a huge difference.
“By showing that ordinary people can be affected, it helps to raise awareness, break down barriers and start vital conversations about life after injury.
“It was an honour for Gabby and I to share our experience and see first-hand the care and respect the team are putting into getting this right.”
PA MediaITV said the Coronation Street research team worked with the Spinal Injuries Association in developing Tyrone’s storyline, and the charity advised writers on scripts.
An ITV spokesperson said: “In the coming months viewers will see Tyrone’s struggle to deal with the mental and physical effects of the injury which will put real strain on his and Fiz’s marriage.”
Halsall and McAlpine thanked Mr Hibbert and his wife for taking the time to meet them and share their experiences.
“We might be telling this story on screen but at the end of the day we go home to our family and friends and leave behind what the characters are going through,” said Halsall.
“Even just trying to negotiate getting round the set in the wheelchair has been a real eye-opener for me, so to hear Martin’s own stories about how his life has changed has been really helpful and also humbling.”
McAlpine added: “For Fiz trying to juggle family life and caring for Tyrone is really difficult.
“It was invaluable for us to meet them both and hear Gabby’s side of their story.
“For them, their lives changed in an instant in so many ways and that is what Fiz is having to deal with whilst looking after Tyrone.”