Top of the World: Surviving the Manchester Bombing to Scale Kilimanjaro in a Wheelchair

by Martin Hibbert, Fiona Duffy

Martin Hibbert was left paralysed from the waist down by the Manchester Arena bombing which killed twenty-two people on 22 May 2017. Martin’s teenage daughter Eve was one of the 940 injured, in Eve’s case, gravely. The dad from Bolton has since become a leading campaigner both for victims of the atrocity and those with spinal cord injuries.

Determined to make a difference he took on the ultimate challenge, scaling Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair, becoming the second paraplegic to do so, and raising a million pounds for charity. Reaching the summit, on 13 June 2022 Martin, who was the closest person to the bomber to survive, said, ‘I’ve often wondered why I was saved. Now I know why. It was for this moment.’

This is Martin’s incredible story.

'Everything about this extraordinary story is as inspiring as it is humbling' Ben Fogle

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2024

Reviews

[Jenna Earnshaw · Rating 1 out of 5]

Feel sad to say this was not what I expected. Was thoroughly enjoying the first half of the book when he was speaking of his strength and recovery. Then all of a sudden it becomes a book about bashing the emergency services. I worked that night, I have friends who worked that night and have had to retire through ptsd. To say nobody @they have blood on their hands” leaves me with such outrage at this person who should be a hero. No paramedic has blood on their hands. Nobody is responsible for this atrocity other than the terrorist who committed it! We have protocols to follow for a reason. If we run straight in it is a known terrorist method to set off a second attack to wipe out the helpers. We are parents too. We have loved ones. We want to help but we also want to survive our shift, not something many career choices have to even consider. Shame on you for adding to the lifelong pain that these responders are already suffering. Could not and will not finish reading.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top Of The World....


An open, honest and a very emotive account, starting from Martin 's early years as a "child entrepreneur" to showing amazing survival instincts, in the aftermath of the bombing. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes and embracing a caring support network, Martin comes out of the darkness into the light, turning an horrific experience into what can be achieved and being an advocate and fundraiser for Spinal injuries.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly heartbreaking story. Being from Manchester the night of the Arena attack has always been in my hardest memories as it was so close to home but reading Martin's story of how the events unfolded and the tragedy his family went through just broke my heart.

But what an inspirational story too, how he has defied the odds and gone to lengths others would never attempt after the incredible help of some very special people. How inspirational this story was it hard to put into perspective but this is a must read. Yes, its heartbreaking at lots of times but Martin is a true inspiration and I am sure a real hero in the eyes of many with the things he has done to fight back and beat the odds.

[Joan Alison Croasdale]

Candid, heartbreaking, uplifting

No punches pulled in this book. Honest, decent and truthful. Every good wish for changes to be made in law, in attitudes to SCI and life after life changing events.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of a sad and terrorising event comes an inspirational man, full of love, strength, bravery and humour.

[Louise Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly open and honest account of one man’s struggles, challenges and how he was able to overcome them. I was in awe of the results obtained by the Neurophysics treatment in Australia.