When Andrew Roussos started renovating his home, he had more than just construction in mind.
It was part of the arduous task of rebuilding his family’s life after an unimaginable tragedy.
Armed with a sledgehammer, he tore down internal walls—though it was much more than just physical destruction.
“It was therapy,” Andrew explains, mimicking the swing of the hammer, “I was angry and frustrated, and the inquiry was just starting, so I needed an outlet.”
This was in the aftermath of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, where 22 innocent lives were lost, including his daughter, 8-year-old Saffie-Rose.
A Daughter Lost and the Painful Truths That Followed
Saffie-Rose was just five meters away from the suicide bomber Salman Abedi when the blast tore through the arena.
Her innocence and carefree nature are captured in the many pictures scattered around the home, showing her smiling with dimples that Andrew finds hard to look at directly.
“I can’t look at her. She’s with us, but to face her… it’s too painful,” he confides.
For years, Andrew and Lisa, his wife, thought Saffie had died instantly and painlessly. But they later learned the shocking truth: she had survived for 69 minutes after the explosion, asking for her mother in her final moments.
“Her last words were ‘Am I going to die?'” Andrew shares, his voice heavy with the grief of a parent forced to confront the most unbearable truths.
The Fight for Justice and the Strain of Legal Failures
The Roussos’ fight for justice has been a long, exhausting one.
They still believe the authorities—particularly MI5—have blood on their hands, though they know they cannot pursue further legal action.
A failed attempt to sue MI5 last year highlighted a key frustration: too much time had passed since the bombing, and many crucial facts had only emerged during the public inquiry.
“It would have been easier to blame the bomber himself,” says Andrew, “but it’s far more complicated than that.”
When the System Fails: Shocking Developments
The agony of their journey is compounded by ongoing frustrations with the justice system.
When news broke that Hashem Abedi, the bomber’s brother, had attacked prison officers in HMP Frankland, it left the Roussos stunned.
“How does a man like that get access to materials to make knives?” Andrew asks, incredulous.
“And hot butter in a prison?” The couple, former owners of a fish and chip shop, know all too well about hot oil and kitchen safety, and they are astounded that such an incident could happen in a supposedly secure prison.
The entire ordeal leaves Andrew with a bitter resignation, questioning the very system he once trusted.
The Emotional Toll of Loss and Surviving the Worst
Despite the shock and fury, Andrew’s focus is clear: “I don’t feel anything towards him.
He’s just one of those extremists. What I blame is the system—those who were supposed to stop them.”
Both Andrew and Lisa are disillusioned by the failings of authorities, which they feel have allowed these men to carry out their plans despite having prior intelligence.
“The system is soft. They’ve let too many things slip through the net,” Andrew reflects. “And even now, you’ll hear ‘lessons will be learned,’ but nothing ever changes.”
The Impact of Trauma on Lisa and Andrew
Lisa, ever the quieter soul, admits that she struggles with the idea of extremists being allowed to interact in prison. “They shouldn’t be allowed to be together.
They are fed, watered, and allowed to keep spreading their evil ideologies,” she says.
She, too, expresses the deep sadness that comes from the constant apologies and half-hearted gestures from authorities.
For them, the failures were not just theoretical—they were personal. Lisa reflects on how ambulance crews were delayed in reaching the scene, and how vital equipment, like stretchers, were missing from a major public venue, leaving her to wonder: How many more failures could there be?
Starting Over in Dorset: A New Home, A New Chapter
In a bid to escape the overwhelming memories of their former life in Lancashire, Andrew and Lisa relocated to a bungalow in rural Dorset, far from the painful reminders of their past.
Saffie’s room was recreated here, a poignant reminder of the girl they lost.
It is not a shrine, they explain, but a space that keeps her spirit alive.
“We go in there often, adding little trinkets to make her feel close,” says Lisa. Saffie’s pink slippers, her Ray-Bans, and a family portrait hang in her room—each item a symbol of the love that endures despite the loss.
A Family Torn Apart, Yet Holding On
The journey to this new life has been fraught with heartache, but it has also revealed the strength of their family.
Their son, Xander, who was just 11 years old at the time of the bombing, has grown into a young man.
“He became the fearless one,” Andrew says.
“He and Saffie were inseparable, but now it’s Xander who has stepped up.” In addition to their son, the couple has found joy in their granddaughter, Ever-Rose, named after Saffie.
These small moments of joy have been vital in keeping the Roussos going, even on the darkest days.
Writing the Book: A Labor of Love and Pain
In the aftermath of the bombing, Andrew and Lisa co-wrote a book about their daughter and their pursuit of justice.
The process was a painful one, particularly as they worked through the chapter that recounts Saffie’s last moments.
For Lisa, reading the account was too much to bear, and she left it for Andrew and their journalist co-author, David Collins, to complete. “It was unbearable,” Andrew admits, his eyes welling up.
“But I kept reminding myself that it would have been worse for Saffie.”
Remembering Saffie: Love, Loss, and Lessons Learned
As the years have passed, the Roussos have faced milestones they never imagined.
Saffie would have turned 16 this year, and they celebrated her memory by asking for photos of her friends in their prom dresses.
“We wanted to celebrate those kids,” Andrew says, his voice soft. “When we lost Saffie, we lost them all too.”
In the midst of their sorrow, they reflect on the profound impact their daughter’s death has had on them and the world.
Even King Charles, who wrote to express his condolences, was touched by their pain, acknowledging the suffering that terrorism has caused in his own family.
The Roussos’ Message of Resilience
Despite everything they’ve endured, Andrew and Lisa continue to move forward, drawing strength from each other and their family.
“Some days, I want to leave everything behind and start fresh,” Andrew admits.
“But then I think of Xander and Ever-Rose. They need us, and we need them.”
Their journey is far from over, but they continue to fight for justice and for the memory of their precious daughter, Saffie-Rose.
Through their pain, they remain a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
Saffie: The Youngest Victim of the Manchester Terror Attack and Her Family’s Fight for Justice by David Collins is released on April 24, 2025.