A TEENAGER who underwent surgery following the Manchester terror attack has left hospital but remains in shock, say her parents.
Schoolgirl Laura Anderson, of Newton Aycliffe, was at the Ariana Grande concert with a friend on Monday when the bomb exploded.
The 15-year-old was hit by shards of metal and glass in the blast which happened at about 10.30pm in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.
She was taken to Bolton Royal Infirmary where she had shrapnel surgically removed from her leg, body and shoulder in an operation on Tuesday.
Speaking to The Northern Echo today, her mother Jana Anderson said Laura had been discharged and the family were heading home.
"We can't wait to get home," said Mrs Anderson. "She's good but that shock is still there and will take a while to get back to normal. But physically she's good."
Laura, who attends Woodham Academy, travelled to the Ariana Grande concert on Monday with her best friend and best friend’s parents, who were waiting for the teenagers outside when they heard the explosion.
Laura's father Gary Anderson was waiting up for her to return home after the gig when he received a phone call from Laura’s friend’s mother asking if he had heard the news.
Mrs Anderson said Laura had been unable to talk about the traumatic events of Monday night.
"She has been able to speak about it only a little bit," she added. "She's not quite ready to tell and it could take a while.
"It must have been so hard - what she's been through. I can't imagine it. I wasn't there and to think of the things she must have seen."
Laura's parents have been by her side since the suicide attack.
Mrs Anderson said: "We stayed overnight in the hospital in doctors' accommodation so we could have a little sleep as we hadn't slept since Monday morning when we went to work."
Laura, who has a twin brother called John, will not return to school this week.
Mrs Anderson praised Woodham Academy who she said had been in contact with the family and hoped Laura would get well soon.
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