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Manchester attack: Homeless hero Stephen Jones to be housed 'by the end of the week' thanks to West Ham chairman

David Sullivan and his son are putting up the former bricklayer for six months

Jon Sharman
Tuesday 13 June 2017 10:40 BST
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David Sullivan calls homeless Manchester 'hero' to confirm they are signing a tenancy agreement

The homeless man who rushed to help young victims of the Manchester terror attack within minutes of the bomb going off, should be housed in a rented flat "by the end of the week".

Stephen Jones, 35, was sleeping near the Manchester Arena on the night of the Ariana Grande concert, when Salman Abedi detonated his homemade explosive device, killing 22 and injuring dozens more.

After rushing to provide help, he found "a lot of children with blood all over them crying and screaming".

"They needed the help. I'd like to think that someone would come and help me if I needed the help," he told ITV News shortly after he incident. "It was just my instinct to go and help people out."

But three weeks after his heroic actions, he was photographed with a sleeping bag and his belongings on the street in central Manchester.

However, Dave Sullivan Jr, the son of the West Ham United chairman, has hit out at claims Mr Jones was still homeless.

Taking to Twitter, the 17-year-old wrote that Mr Jones had been staying in a hotel "which I've been paying for" and that he is in the process of choosing his new accommodation.

"We aim to have a tenancy agreement in place by the end of the week. I'm going up to manc on July 1st to see him," Mr Sullivan said.

"Going up to Manchester on Wednesday to sort Steves house and go shopping with him. Will keep everyone posted on situation".

The Sullivans had promised to pay Mr Jones' rent for six months to help him get back on his feet.

Mr Sullivan Jr shared a recording of a telephone conversation he had with Mr Jones, urging him to explain that he is "not homeless... as some of the papers have been reporting"

Mr Jones replied that "things don't just happen overnight".

He said: "I’ve addressed my drug problem and now I’m addressing my housing problem. "The housing association wanted my birth certificate and all that… people need to realise it takes time, things don't just happen overnight."

He added: "I am getting help."

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