Thomas McCallum was waiting to pick up his step-daughter and her friend in the City Room or foyer of the Manchester Arena, where terrorist Abedi was hiding at the back, waiting for the crowd to emerge at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.
McCallum, standing five feet away, recounted Wild's words to the security guard.
"He said something along the lines of, 'Have you seen the guy up there? He is totally out of it?' Words to that effect," McCallum said.
"I would say he was concerned, certainly enough for me to notice it and register it. Concern would be the overriding emotion."
Nicholas de la Poer, counsel to the inquiry, asked the witness: "What was it the security guard said in reply?"
McCallum said: "It was along the lines of, 'Yeah, yeah, we have seen him. He's fine'.
"My overriding memory is, it was really quite dismissive – 'Yes we have seen him, it's OK'."
He added: "My immediate thought was, it must be something security deal with all the time.
"I presumed it was someone who was drunk, so I did not think any further of it."
Minutes later Abedi detonated his device, which left McCallum "significantly injured" and was evacuated from the room in a wheelchair.
On Tuesday the inquiry heard from Wild, who said he had noticed Abedi with a "massive" rucksack and thought he looked "dodgy" and his presence there "strange".
He approached the bomber saying, "What have you got in the rucksack?" then approached Agha, but was "fobbed off".
Daniel Perry, who worked for Showsec from 2013 and was an operations executive, told the inquiry he had undergone online counter-terrorism training.
On the night of the bombing his role included "access control" or manning doors to the Arena, queue management, searches and "profiling" people.
Perry said it was at the discretion of Showsec staff who was searched based on profiling.
Chairman of the inquiry Sir John Saunders asked the witness about searches, if anyone wearing a big coat, inappropriate for the weather, or "anyone having a rucksack, had to be checked?"
Perry replied: "I would say so. I think it's a rule and also in training that we receive."
He said he was not aware of the "blind spot" in CCTV coverage of the area of the mezzanine level of the City Room, outside the Arena, where Abedi was hiding after he carried out "hostile reconnaissance" in planning the attack.
Perry said staff are told that if they see anybody suspicious, always to report it, if someone is seen "lingering around in an area".
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Manchester Arena blast: emergency services react
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Manchester Arena blast: emergency services react
Police are seen outside the Manchester Arena in northern England where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing in Manchester, Britain, May 22, 2017. REUTERS/Jon Super
Concert goers react after fleeing the Manchester Arena in northern England where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing in Manchester, Britain, May 22, 2017. REUTERS/Jon Super TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Two women wrapped in thermal blankets stand near the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester, northern England, Britain, May 23, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Yates TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Armed police officers stand near the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester, in northern England, Britain May 23, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Yates
People sit by the side of the road next to a police cordon outside the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester, northern England, Britain, May 23, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Yates TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Armed police at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig.
Armed police officers stand next to a police cordon outside the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester, northern England, Britain, May 23, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Yates
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 23: People leave Victoria Station adjacent to Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Dawn breaks over Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Police escort members of the public from the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Emergency services at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 23: A police officer escorts people near to Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Police and fans close to the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)
Medics deploy at the scene of a reported explosion during a concert in Manchester, England on May 23, 2017.
British police said early May 23 there were 'a number of confirmed fatalities' after reports of at least one explosion during a pop concert by US singer Ariana Grande. Ambulances were seen rushing to the Manchester Arena venue and police added in a statement that people should avoid the area
/ AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Members of the public are escorted from the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Police stand by a cordoned off street close to the Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017 in Manchester, England. There have been reports of explosions at Manchester Arena where Ariana Grande had performed this evening. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed there are fatalities and warned people to stay away from the area. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Police officers stand at the Miller Street and Corporation Street Crossroads, in front of the Manchester Arena on May 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. An explosion occurred at Manchester Arena as concert goers were leaving the venue after Ariana Grande had performed. Greater Manchester Police have have confirmed 19 fatalities and at least 50 injured. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)
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Perry was blown off his feet and injured in the blast, and after assisting a colleague, helped to safely evacuate the crowd and away from the blast site.
The public inquiry, expected to end next spring, continues.
