The mother of an Esher College student who narrowly escaped harm in the Paris terror attacks has spoken of the “awful feeling” she experienced when she saw the events unfold on the news.

Photography students from the Weston Green Road college were on a school trip in the French capital.

They were there to visit international photography show, Paris Photo, when Islamic State terrorists killed 129 people and injured more than 300 others in separate premeditated attacks on the Bataclan concert hall, the Stade de France and bars and cafes in Paris on Friday, November 13.

Mum Lene Wood had waved off her teenage son Ashley, a second year photography and art student, just hours earlier.

Mrs Wood said: “As they were walking back to the hostel the shooting started.

“There were guards outside the door and they weren’t allowed to open the windows.

“Ash said it was horrible as you could hear people’s screams and fire engines.

"It was absolute hysteria. I was in bits from not knowing. Ash is quite laid back so it was me and his dad that did the panicking.”

The group of 36 students and four teachers had arrived in Paris at 7pm last Friday – just hours before the attacks.

Students had met up with their teachers in the art vicinity of the city near the Louvre before walking back to the Generator hostel where they were staying for dinner.

It was just as they arrived at the hostel – just roads away from Le Petit Cambodge and Le Carillon bar – that 15 people were killed and “hysteria” unfolded.

College students then spent the next two days tensely locked in the hostel, and were finally allowed to leave on Sunday, November 15, on a Eurostar train back home.

Mrs Wood said: “When I saw him I was going to burst into tears, but Ash was saying: ‘What’re you doing Mum? I’m fine’.

“I cleaned his room and left him chocolates and a new pair of Calvin Klein’s on his bed for when he got back. I was so relieved.”

A spokeswoman from Esher College said the college had been in “constant communication” with the Foreign Office, Surrey County Council, parents and the group.

She added: “We would like to confirm that all students and staff were unharmed, although understandably shaken, and we are extremely pleased to report that they have all arrived home safely.”

Students have since been offered counselling at the college. Principal Dan Dean said: “We are extremely grateful to the staff and students involved for handling a terrible situation with calmness and fortitude.”

British man Nick Alexander from Colchester was killed at the Bataclan concert venue.

Surrey Police held a minute’s silence in remembrance for those killed in the attack, and Surrey County Council and Elmbridge Council lowered their flags at half mast in solidarity this week.

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