UPDATE: 'My parents said they were walking back to their hotel when they heard sounds like gunshots' - Daughter of East Lancashire teacher talks about terror attack in Nice

Four Year 12 pupils from Haslingden High School, along with two teachers and a volunteer, had been enjoying the Bastille Day celebrations shortly before a lorry ploughed into the crowds on the French city’s promenade, killing 84 people including 10 children.

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Ros McDonald, 59, foreign language teacher at the Broadway school, had been supervising the 16 and 17-year-old students with the help of her husband Bob, 59, and another colleague when the attack took place around 10.30pm local time on Thursday.

The group had been walking back to their hotel when they heard gunshots.
As chaos broke out the group were separated for a short time before being reunited in a nearby square.

French nationals offered shelter to the group by pulling them into a hotel for safety and telling them to stay down.

The couple’s daughter, Hayley Bury, said she had been in contact with her parents after their horrific ordeal.

The 34-year-old said: “My parents said they were walking back to their hotel when they heard sounds like gunshots.

“My dad said they were yards away. They had been walking for two or three minutes. They heard the gunshot sounds and started running.

“They did not realise what it was. My dad said it was a completely surreal experience.

“Everyone was rushing. There were a lot of people running in different directions. That’s when they got separated and managed to meet up in a square.”

The group, who were due to leave France on Sunday, were expected to fly back early.

Mrs Bury, a youth inclusion worker at Blackburn homeless charity Nightsafe, said: “All of the hotels were getting people inside.

“Staff members were pulling people inside and they were taken to the first floor. There was a huge effort to keep everybody safe. They were told to stay down, away from the windows.”

She said her father Bob, who is manager of the Inter Madrassah Organisation in Blackburn, told her police put the whole area in lockdown and they didn’t managed to get back to their hotel until around 2am.

Mrs Bury said: “Mum was in contact with the school in the evening and the morning and all of the parents were kept informed. They knew very quickly that everyone was okay.”

Mrs Bury described waking up to text messages on Friday morning and feeling ‘complete relief’ after hearing they were okay.

“I’m looking forward to them coming home and giving them a hug. It was scary when I read that message. I flew downstairs to put the television on and I just burst into tears. I didn’t realise how close they were to it.

“It’s just how quickly it can change,” she said.

“The pictures they sent from the Bastille Day celebrations were of them all smiling together and 20 minutes later it had happened.

“My dad has just said they are so lucky. There are so many that are less fortunate.”

French authorities said as well as those killed, 188 people were seriously injured in the attack, with 50 people described as being in a ‘critical condition’.

The driver, who was named as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, was shot dead by police. Initially, it was the thought the attack was an accident.

Mark Jackson, headteacher at Haslingden High School, said: “It was obviously a very frightening incident but I’m relieved to say that all our party are safe and well.

“We spoke to the parents of the students involved last night and again this morning to update and reassure them at this very difficult time.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our students and staff back home. On behalf of the school I’d like to send our deepest condolences to the people of Nice and everyone affected by this appalling act.”

Haslingden and Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said: “The events were a despicable and cowardly act. Our thoughts at this time are with the families affected and particularly the children involved.”

Messages of condolence also poured in on social media for those caught up in the atrocity.

The Diocese of Salford tweeted: “Our heartfelt prayers for all those victims of attack in Nice, sympathy to their families & loved ones & solidarity with French people.”

Churches across East Lancashire yesterday said prayers for the victims of the attack. Lancashire County Councillor Azhar Ali said: “Thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the Nice terrorist attacks and their loved ones #NiceAttack #uniteagainsthate”.

Hundreds of people in Lancashire have taken to Twitter to unite with the French.

Do you know of anyone from East Lancashire who is in the area? Please contact neil.athey@nqnw.co.uk or 01254 298205.