Nice attack: Man loses six members of his family in Bastille Day lorry massacre

Devastating loss: A man stands amid a sea of tributes at the scene of the attack in Nice
AP
Sebastian Mann17 July 2016

A survivor of the deadly lorry attack in Nice is said to be too traumatised to speak after losing six members of his family spanning three generations, according French media.

The man, named in reports as Christophe Lyon, lost his wife Veronique, 55, as well as his mother Gisele, 63, and father Germain, 68.

His wife’s parents Francois Locatelli, 82, and Christiane Locatelli, 78, were also claimed by the tragedy along with their grandson Michael Pellegrini, 28.

The group had met up to celebrate Bastille Day in Nice and were among crowds mowed down by Tunisian driver Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel when he ploughed a truck into spectators, killing at least 84 people.

The Locatellis were well-known in the township of Longwy in north-eastern France, where Francois had worked as a heating engineer and his grandson taught economics and social studies, France’s Republicain newspaper reported.

An American father and son are also among those killed in the terror attack.

Tragic: Sean Copeland and his son were killed while on holiday
Copeland Family

Sean Copeland, 51, and his 11-year-old son Brodie, from Texas, were on holiday when the atrocity took place.

In a statement, the Copeland family said: "We are heartbroken and in shock over the loss of Brodie Copeland, an amazing son and brother who lit up our lives, and Sean Copeland, a wonderful husband and father. They are so loved."

Another person believed to be a victim is a Russian, named in reports as 21-year-old student Victoria Savchenko.

Russian news reports said she was on holiday with her friend Polina Serebryannikova who was taken to hospital with injuries.

According to L'Express newspaper, the first victim to die was a Muslim mother-of-seven who wore a veil.

Fatima Charrihi's son Hamza said she was with nieces and nephews when she was killed and that his brother had tried to revive her but she had died instantly.

He said: "She wore the veil, practising an Islam of the middle ground. A real Islam. Not that of the terrorists."

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