The family of an Australian woman who was killed in a terrorist attack in London have revealed the extent of their devastation when they realised their ‘street-wise’ daughter had died.
Sara Zelenak, 21, was at a restaurant at Borough Market in June 2017 when three men jumped out of a van and began stabbing people.
She had left her family behind in Brisbane to work as an au pair in the city just months before, and when news of the attack reached Australia her grandmother Heather New sent her a text message.
‘Hope you are okay after attack in London. Maybe stay away from crowds. Never know where these attacks will be next. Keep safe. Love you,’ Ms New said.
Sara never responded – and as her panicked parents Mark and Julie Wallace landed in London to search for their daughter their worst fears were confirmed.
Sara Zelenak (pictured) left in Brisbane March to live in London and work as an au pair
Three-and-a-half months into her trip Sara was supposed to meet Julie and her stepfather Mark Wallace in Paris (Pictured: London Bridge terror attack)
Ms Zelenak had left The Redlands in Brisbane, nicknamed The Deadlands by locals because nothing happens there.
She was a miniature version of her mother and was excited to work in as an au pair for two boys.
Three-and-a-half months into her trip, Sara was supposed to meet Julie and her stepfather Mark Wallace at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Two weeks after Sara’s arrival, a van plowed into passengers at Westminister – but she was nowhere near the area at the time.
Her grandmother texted her after Ariana Grande’s Manchester concert was attacked, but she was fine then too.
On June 3 2017, a van with three terrorists inside crashed into pedestrians on London Bridge, near Borough market, before they jumped out of the vehicle and began stabbing people.
Sara’s grandmother, Heather New, texted her again.
‘Hope you are okay after attack in London. Maybe stay away from crowds. Never know where these attacks will be next. Keep safe. Love you,’ the text read, according to ABC’s Australian Story.
Sara’s family became increasingly worried when she didn’t respond to calls and texts following news of the London terror attack (Pictured: memorials for those killed in the terror attack)
Mrs Wallace and her husband were having breakfast when they got a call from friend Jodie Johnston about what had happened in London.
They began calling their daughter and became increasingly worried as she didn’t answer.
They reached out to friends and eventually began cold-calling London hospitals.
The next day the Australian Federal Police knocked at their door and told them Sara was listed as a missing person.
The AFP interviewed her parents about her, asking about identifying features, while Scotland Yard took DNA samples from Sara’s bedroom in London.
Mrs Wallace (pictured with Sara) said she couldn’t breathe when she found out her daughter was dead
Mrs Wallace and her husband flew to London and wanted to retrace Sara’s steps. She was eating at a restaurant near where the three men struck (Pictured: London Bridge terror attack)
Sara’s passport was found but her body wasn’t. Mr and Mrs Wallace still had hope she was okay but a phone call changed that.
‘I said “Sara’s dead?”, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t take the seat belt off. I just went into shock,’ Mrs Wallace told the program.
Mr Wallace said: ‘As soon as Jules stood up and started crying then she didn’t have to say anything. I knew. We were both just bawling our eyes out. We couldn’t believe it.’
They flew to London and immediately wanted to retrace Sara’s steps, who was eating at a restaurant near where the three men struck.
London Bridge was still a crime scene when Jim Galvin, the London Metropolitan Police officer assigned to them, took them to Southwark Cathedral.
Sara’s mum Julie Wallace was having breakfast with her husband when they got the shocking news about the London Bridge terror attack (pictured)
‘I said “Sara’s dead?”, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t take the seat belt off. I just went into shock,’ Mrs Wallace told ABC’s Australian Story (Pictured: London Bridge terror attack)
On June 23 earlier this year, Mr and Mrs Wallace and some close supporters gathered just off London Bridge, at the place where Sara ‘was last in life’ (Pictured: memorials for those killed in the terror attack)
Sara was found in the shadow of the cathedral and Mr and Mrs Wallace walked the steps, laid flowers and lit candles.
They also prayed for Sara and a small service was held for the 21-year-old.
Mrs Wallace pulled out a piece of concrete and put the keepsake into her shirt.
When they saw Sara’s body they each held her hand and Mrs Wallace said ‘she holds my hand every day’.
Mrs Wallace has been back to London twice since then and has established a charity that offers a retreat for victims of trauma.
The charity is called Sarz Sanctuary in memory of Sara.
On June 23, Mrs Wallace, her husband and close supporters gathered just off London Bridge, at the place where Sara ‘was last in life’.
Her story will be aired on ABC’s Australian Story on Monday night at 8pm.