Quick summary: Manchester Arena bombing survivor and Spinal Injuries Association Vice President Martin Hibbert has received a specialist standing wheelchair funded by recruitment company Pertemps to support his expanding public speaking career and advocacy work. The advanced mobility equipment has allowed Hibbert to stand for the first time since sustaining paralyzing spinal injuries in 2017, providing vital physical health benefits such as improved circulation while enabling eye level communication during his national campaigns. This milestone highlights critical gaps in public healthcare policy and community well being for the estimated fifty thousand people living with spinal cord injuries across the UK, demonstrating how targeted corporate philanthropy and accessible specialized equipment can empower disabled individuals to lead active lives and support those who lack financial compensation.
Martin Hibbert, the closest survivor to the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, has received a specialist standing wheelchair from recruitment company Pertemps to support his growing public speaking and advocacy work.
Hibbert sustained severe spinal cord injuries when shrapnel severed his spine at the T10 level during the attack on 22nd May 2017, which claimed 22 lives at an Ariana Grande concert. The injuries left him paralysed from the waist down. He has since become Vice President of the Spinal Injuries Association and a prominent campaigner for accessibility and spinal injury awareness across the UK.
The wheelchair was funded by Pertemps Lifetime President Tim Watts, who developed a personal connection with Hibbert through their shared community work and wanted to support his ongoing efforts.
Tim Jones, Head of Marketing and Sponsorship at Pertemps, said: “Martin is an extraordinary individual whose resilience, positivity, and commitment to helping others are truly inspiring. We are proud to support him with this standing wheelchair, which we hope will assist him in continuing his incredible work, both within the spinal injuries community and through his growing public speaking career.”
The equipment has already allowed Hibbert to stand for the first time since his injury, marking a significant milestone in both his physical capabilities and public engagement. Beyond mobility, standing wheelchairs offer improved circulation and muscle tone, and allow users to interact with others at eye level, which can significantly enhance confidence during public appearances and daily interactions.
Since the attack, Hibbert has built an extraordinary public profile. He scaled Mount Kilimanjaro in a specially adapted wheelchair alongside the medical team who saved his life, and authored the book Top of the World, documenting his journey from surviving the bombing to conquering Africa’s highest peak. He has also advised Coronation Street cast members on the accurate portrayal of spinal cord injuries and continues to campaign for improved accessibility in Manchester.
Hibbert is now channelling his experience into establishing his own charitable foundation. He said: “Very much like what Watts does, I’m setting up my own foundation. Looking after people with spinal cord injuries who don’t have a route to compensation. Helping people with appropriate wheelchairs, or adapting their homes, or getting the rehabilitation they need. Spinal cord injuries are life-changing, but they don’t have to be life-ending.”
The new wheelchair is expected to play a key role in meeting the physical demands of his travel and events schedule as the foundation takes shape.
An estimated 50,000 people in the UK are living with spinal cord injuries, and access to appropriate mobility aids remains a critical and ongoing challenge. The Spinal Injuries Association, where Hibbert serves as Vice President, provides information, support, and services to those affected and their families, emphasising that with the right assistance, individuals can lead full and active lives.