A Stepping Hill Hospital pharmacist received a Royal thank-you from Prince William for supplying food and drink to local emergency services in the wake of the Manchester Arena attack.
Haseeb Khan (23) heard about the attack after returning home from holiday when his plane landed at Manchester Airport at 3.00am, just a few hours after reports of the explosions on Monday 22nd May. Watching the horrifying scenes unfold on television, Haseeb and his twin brother Bilal – who is also a pharmacist - decided they had to do something to help.
After first checking if any pharmacy support was needed, they got in touch with Indian restaurant Bukhara in Cheetham Hill, Manchester which had already offered to help .
Haseeb and Bilal filled his car with food and drink for police, paramedics and reporters on the scene at the Arena. They then made separate trips to nearby hotels where survivors had gone to offer further food.
Haseeb and Bilal were invited to meet the Prince, alongside other volunteers and representatives from St John’s Ambulance, Northern Rail and the British Red Cross at Manchester Cathedral on Friday 2nd June. Prince William described the heroes as ‘Shining lights for the community in Manchester.’
Haseeb, who is from Stretford in Manchester, said, “When I saw the terrible events on the news, I felt overwhelmed by a heightening sense of fear and desperation. People I knew could have been at the concert. We felt we needed to respond, both as human beings and as Muslims, to help the victims of this atrocity and the emergency services helping them. The reactions from the police and others was fantastic. The smiles, handshakes and hugs are something we will never forget.”
After speaking to everyone at the Cathedral, Prince William left a heartfelt message in the condolence book which said the city`s "strength and togetherness is an example to the world”.
