Coronation Street stars Alan Halsall and Jennie McAlpine met with Manchester arena bomb survivor Martin Hibbert, who assisted with research for Tyrone Dobbs’ spinal injury story.

Martin and his wife Gabby visited the set of the ITV soap to speak with Alan and Jennie, who play Tyrone and Fiz Dobbs respectively, to share their experience of living with a spinal cord injury.

Martin is the Vice President of the Spinal injuries association, which has worked closely with the Corrie research team, advising them on scripts amid the storyline in question.

Martin was the closest casualty to the bomb blast to survive.

He suffered 22 shrapnel wounds and underwent life saving surgery at Salford Royal Hospital. Martin’s spine was severed by shrapnel, leaving him with a T10 complete spinal cord injury and paralysed from the waist down.

‘I’m so impressed that Coronation Street has chosen to tell this important story,’ he said. ‘Spinal cord injury can happen to anyone, at any time, and having such a big TV programme shine a light on the realities of living with it will make a huge difference.

‘By showing that ordinary people can be affected, it helps to raise awareness, break down barriers and start vital conversations about life after injury. It was an honour for Gabby and I to share our experience and see first-hand the care and respect the team are putting into getting this right.’

Tyrone, as viewers know, was struck by a car in scenes which aired last month.

Discovered by Carla Connor (Alison King) and DS Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers), Ty was taken straight to hospital, where Fiz and mum Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney) were told that he’d suffered two fractured vertebrae’s and had a blood clot pressing against his spine and needed emergency surgery.

When Tyrone woke up, he couldn’t feel his legs, with a doctor later confirming that it could be years before any feeling returned.

Monday’s (October 13) edition of the serial drama saw him fall out of his wheelchair while home alone.

Cassie (Claire Sweeney), believing Fiz was on her way home, left Tyrone on his own and she was shocked when she returned to find him on the floor.

Upcoming episodes will see Tyrone struggle with the mental and physical effects of the injury, which will put strain on his and Fiz’s marriage.

‘We are so grateful to Martin and Gabby for giving up their time to talk to us about their experiences,’ said star Alan. ‘We might be telling this story on screen but at the end of the day we go home to our family and friends and leave behind what the characters are going through.

‘Even just trying to negotiate getting round the set in the wheelchair has been a real eyeopener for me so to hear Martin’s own stories about how his life has changed has been really helpful and also humbling.’

Jennie added: ‘For Fiz trying to juggle family life and caring for Tyrone is really difficult. It was invaluable for us to meet them both and hear Gabby’s side of their story, for them their lives changed in an instant in so many ways and that is what Fiz is having to deal with whilst looking after Tyrone.’