Family of Adelaide Stratton thanks ‘wonderful stranger’ for help after Nice attacks

THE family of a young Australian woman injured in the Nice terror attack thanks the “wonderful stranger” who helped them in the aftermath.

Australian woman Adelaide Stratton was injured in the Nice terror attack.

THE family of a 22-year-old Australian woman injured in the Nice attack has thanked the “wonderful stranger” who helped their daughter in the aftermath of the horrific event.

Speaking outside the Hospital Pasteur in Nice, Adelaide Stratton’s family friend Debbie Cook thanked French medical workers and friends of their daughter for her care.

“We’d like to thank the staff caring for our daughter, along with the French emergency service personnel and the wonderful stranger who helped Adelaide on the night. We also want to thank Adelaide’s former boss for his assistance here in Nice and her travelling companions,” she said.

“At this time, our focus is on Adelaide’s recovery. Like any family, we want our vibrant 22-year- old to bounce back from this awful experience and continue on with the wonderful life she has ahead of her.”

She also told AFP the kind stranger had visited her in hospital in the days since.

“A complete stranger stayed with her in the immediate stages after she was injured and went in the ambulance. And bless him, he has been at the hospital with her most days,” she said.

Sydneysiders Adelaide Stratton, Chiara Ronzel and Bridget De Jong were walking on the Promenade des Anglais during the Bastille Day celebrations when Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel ploughed through in a truck killing 84 people including 10 children and injuring 202.

The group was separated during the chaos and suffered minor injuries, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed shortly afterwards.

Bridget De Jong, Adelaide Stratton and Chiara Ronzel were injured in the deadly attacks in Nice.

Ms Stratton was walking with Marcus Anderson — the boyfriend of Bridget De Jong — when the attack occurred and has been undergoing scans in hospital after a horrific end to their European trip which had also included Britain and Portugal.

Ms Cook said the family sent condolences to others who lost their relatives and appealed for privacy on Ms Stratton’s behalf.

“We’d like to send our condolences to all the families who’ve lost loved ones in this truly awful attack and to other families, like us, who are dealing with its aftermath,” she said.

“We also think it’s only fair that Adelaide has a say in how much media exposure she is comfortable with. Until she has recovered, we would appreciate it if you would respect her privacy and ours.”

The terror-weary nation held a moment’s silence on Monday in memory of the victims of the attack, the third major terror event France has faced following the Charlie Hebdo and Bataclan atrocities.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls was booed in Nice before and after the minute’s silence with one woman shouting for him to resign.

President Francois Hollande’s approval ratings have also sunk to just over 10 per cent according to one poll in the aftermath as citizens fear the state of emergency has done little to protect them from the attacks.

People gather at a makeshift memorial to observe a minute of silence to honour the victims of the attack I in Nice. Picture: AP Photo/Luca Bruno.