Police have charged Manchester's 'homeless hero' Chris Parker with the theft of a bank card, which belonged to a victim of the Manchester Arena bombing in May. Authorities have released a short statement, saying: "Chris Parker, of no fixed abode, has been charged with two counts of theft.
"He has been remanded to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates on Wednesday 16 August 2017."
Parker was dubbed the 'homeless hero' following the terror attack for his selfless acts when the bomb exploded. The 33-year-old says the blasts knocked him to the ground, but instead of running away from the chaos, he ran towards it.
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Credit: PA
He told the M.E.N: "Everyone was piling out, all happy and everything else. As people were coming out of the glass doors I heard a bang and within a split-second I saw a white flash, then smoke and then I heard screaming."
"I saw a little girl. I wrapped her in one of the merchandise T-shirts and I said, 'where is your mum and daddy?' She said, 'my dad is at work, my mum is up there.'"
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"There were nuts and bolts all over the floor. People had holes in their back. It's the screams I can't get over and the smell...I don't like to say it but it smelled like burning flesh."
The Guardian reports that Parker has been charged with stealing the bank card from Pauline Healey, who was in a coma following the blasts and had to have surgery to remove shrapnel. Ms Healey's daughter, Samantha, was also seriously injured, but her 14-year-old granddaughter, Sorrell Leczkowski, was killed in the explosion.
Credit: PA
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Following media report surrounding Chris' efforts, his estranged mum, Jessica, was shocked to find that he was homeless. They reunited and took flowers down to St Ann's square, but Jessica told the M.E.N: "As a mother, I want to clean him up, feed him, clothe him, but I've got to remember that I can't do that, it's not my place to do that."
A fundraising page was set up for Chris on GoFundMe, which saw nearly 3,800 people donate £52,589 ($67,668). Michael Johns started the page and has released a statement: "Some of you may have seen a statement released by Greater Manchester Police tonight.
"I don't wish to prejudice any legal process, so I am monitoring the situation however I will make no further comment until proceedings have concluded.
In the event it becomes clearly inappropriate for this money to be released to Chris, all funds will be refunded with the support of GoFundMe."
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The money raised still hasn't been handed over to Parker, as the website was working with an agency to see how they would be able to give him the cash.
Featured Image Credit: Go Fund MeTopics: Manchester