get in touch with Martyn.
‘I turned to Louise and said,
‘He’s gone, I can’t feel him’. I could
sense it,’ Figen said.
The following morning, unsure
of what to do, the family followed
the advice of the police and were
told to go to the Etihad Stadium,
where the public were offered help
and assistance.
After a long and difficult day of
waiting, the family were informed
at 9:40pm, that Martynhadbeen
killed in the attack
Figen says, ‘I a
he was gone, but I
completely devas
‘We tried to com
his siblings and
Stuart hugged the
policewoman
who’d told us.
‘Afterwards,
we all went
home and spent
the night
together crying,
hugging,
sharing
memories of
Martyn and
drinking his
favourite drink – a
vodka and diet co
Eight days later
was able to go and see Martyn’s
body in the morgue.
She says, ‘He was just half a
metre away from the attacker, but
his body – despite multiple injuries- was intact and I was able to go and
say goodbye.
‘He looked like he was sleeping,
which was heart-breaking.
‘It was extremely
traumatic, but I’m glad
Stuart and I had the
opportunity to hug him
oved him.’
was held three
at Stockport town
nearly 2,000
ttending –
ing corrie stars
Marsh and Jennie
Alpine.
n the weeks
llowing Martyn’s
uneral, Figen went
o vigils, a tribute
concert in
Manchester and
police meetings –
describing it all as
one big blur.
But just a month
after her son’s
death, Figen
ecided that she
eded to forgive
son’s killer.
gen says, ‘I saw a
re of four men
ing the Finsbury
sque attacker.
had driven a van
ans near the
gon
d to
e
merealisetheonly
way to move on was
for me to forgive
Martyn’s killer.
‘I could hate him, but I knew that
wouldn’t help me move forward.
‘He was young and had been
groomed into extremism – I needed
to find a way to help stop other
young people from going down thatterrible path.’
Before Martyn was killed Figen
was a psychotherapist, but after his
death she stopped practising and
decided she wanted to focus on anti-
terror teaching.
She says, ‘I waited until after the
first anniversary, as I knew it would
all be too raw. But then I called local
schools and told them I wanted to
give a talk.
‘Now, I tour the country telling
them about Martyn, his wonderful
spirit and personality and how it all
came to an end that day.
‘As a family we’re still
struggling. We have counselling
and a brilliant group of friends
around us who we can turn to when
we’re having low days, but the pain
will never go away.
‘Martyn would be so proud of
how close we are to his friends.
‘They pop over constantly and we
get together on his birthday and
around Christmas.’
Figen is now campaigning for
Martyn’s law – a ruling that would
ensure stricter security measures at
events like concerts.
She is currently
working with official
bodies in Manchester
to trial the measures in
the city.
She says, ‘Every
time there is
something about
terrorism in the news,
it just reinforces my goal to help
make the world a safer place and
share my message.
‘Martyn’s death was senseless,
but I’m determined that his life will
be honoured.’REAL LIFE
My boy
looked like
he was just
sleeping
Martyn’s life will
be honouredNever forgotten