Being close to the scene of a terrorist attack is different than seeing it unfold on the screen.

For Sarah Beth Keeley, who attended Mount Boucherie Secondary in West Kelowna, the situation was all too real when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena, Monday night.

A little more than 200 yards away, Keeley and her Canadian boyfriend Gavin Sorochan were performing as part of a musical tour in the U.K., promoting their new single in an entertainment venue down the street, called Gullivers.

The bombing happened while Keeley was performing. They first thought a transformer had blown in the arena. Staff at the Gullivers venue locked the doors.

香蕉视频直播淲e didn香蕉视频直播檛 actually hear anything at that point,香蕉视频直播� she said, adding there was music and performances underway. Shortly thereafter, the venue went on lockdown.

Keeley and her boyfriend didn香蕉视频直播檛 find out it was a suicide bombing as no one could go anywhere to get details.

香蕉视频直播淥nce we learned it was a bombing we had to stay in there,香蕉视频直播� she said.

After an hour they were let outside into the streets which Keeley described as a 香蕉视频直播済host town香蕉视频直播� aside from emergency personnel.

香蕉视频直播淭here were police everywhere and you could hear sirens continuously and a couple of helicopters were circling.香蕉视频直播�

She walked to her hotel which was at the corner of the street by a barricade.

香蕉视频直播淵ou feel strange, you feel confused,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淓verything had been shut down everywhere.香蕉视频直播�

They arrived at their hotel after learning it was a bombing at the concert. Twenty-two people lost their lives.

香蕉视频直播淭here was a young couple, there were young girls with their heads down in their phones probably texting their parents and there was a lady with her face in her hands crying because she couldn香蕉视频直播檛 find her daughter and you香蕉视频直播檙e in the middle of this freaking out,香蕉视频直播� she said.

The situation was foreign to her, after only seeing terrorist attacks in the media from afar. The couple was worried there would be more attacks.

香蕉视频直播淥ur biggest concern wasn香蕉视频直播檛 really the bombing香蕉视频直播� what we were concerned about was this would be like another Paris ordeal where the gunman might香蕉视频直播檝e been mobile,香蕉视频直播� said Sorochan, as they had yet to learn it was a suicide bombing.

They stayed in Manchester for two more nights and cancelled their last show out of respect for the victims of the attack.

The pair said they haven香蕉视频直播檛 had a chance to properly reflect on the incident and how they may view it could change, once they are back in Canada.

香蕉视频直播淲hen you香蕉视频直播檙e separated from an event you can sort of take a look at it from a third person,香蕉视频直播� said Sorochan. 香蕉视频直播淚 know how we saw 9/11 and there was an immediate 香蕉视频直播極h my god.香蕉视频直播� When you香蕉视频直播檙e in something, you have to react. Now if we come back to Canada, we may sit and say 香蕉视频直播業 don香蕉视频直播檛 know if I want to venture out again,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� he said.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e thought about my flight home out of London,香蕉视频直播� added Keeley. 香蕉视频直播淚 feel less relaxed going back to the airport than coming here.香蕉视频直播�

Keeley香蕉视频直播檚 father and stepmother Mike and Jo Bullock live in West Kelowna and they said they weren香蕉视频直播檛 aware of the situation in Manchester until after they received a text from Keeley saying she was OK.

香蕉视频直播淚mmediately I thought something has happened,香蕉视频直播� said father Mike Bullock. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 very grateful for her doing that.香蕉视频直播�

Moving forward, Bullock said there is concern for his daughter香蕉视频直播檚 safety.

香蕉视频直播淲e haven香蕉视频直播檛 really worried a lot about terrorism because of where she was traveling to in the past. Going forward it香蕉视频直播檚 a bit of an issue for sure,香蕉视频直播� he said.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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