The youngest victim of the terrorist attack at London Bridge had 'no chance' to escape before she was stabbed to death by Jihadists, an inquest heard today.
Australian au pair Sara Zelenak, 21, had met up for drinks with her friend Priscila Goncalves near London Bridge before terrorists killed her and seven others on June 3 2017.
After sheltering from the rain at a bar called London Grind at 2 London Bridge they heard the loud crash of the terrorists' hire van smashing into the railings and began running down stone steps towards Borough Market.
But Ms Zelenak was wearing high heels and appeared to lose her balance, falling over on the wet pavement.
She was aided by James McMullan, 32, but the inquest at the Old Bailey were told the pair had 'no chance' as the attackers were already running towards them.
By-stander Erick Siguenza filmed terrified people screaming and running away as the pair were stabbed with 12-inch knives.
Sara Zelenak, 21 (pictured in handout photo) had met up for drinks with her friend Priscila Goncalves near London Bridge before terrorists killed her and seven others on June 3 2017
Australian Ms Zelenak was stabbed in the neck after she fell over in her high heels. She is pictured earlier that evening
Ms Zelenak's parents Julie, 52, and Mark Wallace, 51, were seated in court as Ms Goncalves said: 'I think she was just next to me. We were going down the stairs and then we heard something, and we went up to see what was happening and people started to say run and that is what we did.
'It was like a loud crash. It sounded like something big, that is why we went back to take a look. At the time it seemed to be coming from my right.
'I think, I thought I had seen the van but now I don't think I had, actually I was just confused. I had no idea what was going on.
'We were together. I started running, I thought she was with me but when I looked, she was not. Everybody was running.'
Footage was played in court showing Ms Goncalves and Ms Zelenak sheltering from the heavy rain before entering London Grind where they stayed for about 45 minutes before moving down towards Borough Market.
Ms Goncalves added: 'We just wanted to continue our night and have fun'.
Ms Zelenak's friend Priscila Goncalves is pictured at the Old Bailey in London today, left, with her parents Julie, 52, and Mark Wallace, 51, right
James McMullan, 32, tried to help Sara Zelenak, 21, after she fell over as she ran away from the terrorists, but the pair were stabbed to death
Emergency services are pictured swarming London Bridge and the surrounding area on the night of the terror attack in 2017
Erick Siguenza, who filmed the attack, told the court he saw another victim, Briton James McMullan, trying to help Ms Zelenak up after she slipped over.
He told the court: 'As soon as the van crashed they stepped out and the driver stabbed the woman that had jumped out to get out of the way of the van crashing.
'That's when they started stabbing her. I believe there was a gentleman trying to help her get up and he was stabbed as well.
'As I was recording there was a lot of screaming and just people realising what was going on and just shouting in general.'
Gareth Patterson QC, representing the victims' families, said: 'We know Sara Zelenak was found within minutes at the top of the steps and we know the young white woman with long hair had stab injuries.
'We also know she was wearing high heels and on the ground it was quite wet that night.
'From what you saw of this man helping her, did you get the impression she lost her balance?'
The witness said: 'Yes. She was completely on the ground. He just grabbed her left arm and gently tried to pick her up but by then the attackers were in close proximity and that's when they started attacking.
'There was no time for him to be able to help her up because the driver and the other terrorists were already running towards them.'
Ms Zelenak was stabbed more than once and her helper,
