The family of an Australian woman killed in the London Bridge terror attack in 2017 have told SBS News they hope an inquest beginning today will bring them closure.
Sara Zelenak, a 21-year-old Queensland nanny, was killed in the attack along with fellow Australian Kirsty Boden and six others during the attack on June 3, 2017.
Ms Zelenak's mother Julie Wallace and her stepfather Mark Wallace said they hoped the inquest would help avoid a similar tragedy from occurring again.
The funeral for London terror attack victim, Sara Zelanak, was held at her old school. Source: Supplied
"I think there'll be a lot of raw emotion - it doesn't change anything, we can't make her come home, but I'd really like to meet the first responders and thank them for trying," Ms Wallace said.
The couple have since started a holistic trauma-healing centre Sarz Sanctuary after her death, have reportedly flown to London for the inquest at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.
"Last year we rode our bikes from the London Bridge - Sara's place of death - and we finished at the Eiffel Tower," Mr Wallace said.
"We were going to meet Sara on the 30th of June, which was 27 days after her death, and the suggestion was made that we should ride our bikes, which for us was a super healing process where we were able to meet Sara a year to the day, and we met her in spirit at the Eiffel tower.
Julie and Mark Wallace started Sarz' Sanctuary, a holistic healing service for families who have suddenly lost a loved one. Source: Supplied
"We've now created this as an annual fundraiser for Sarz' Sanctuary, and we've got 42 signed riders at this stage who'll make that journey with us, and those funds will be what we use to develop Sarz' Sanctuary and open our healing retreat."
Ms Zelenak evaded two previous terror attacks; she had a ticket to the Ariana Grande concert that was bombed in Manchester but didn't go and was at Westminster Bridge a day before a deadly rampage three months before the London Bridge attack.
Ms Zelenak, and Ms Boden and six others were killed when Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba drove a van into people walking on London Bridge, then ran through the Borough Market stabbing people with ceramic kitchen knives on the night of 3 June in 2017.
Canadian Christine Archibald, 30, Briton James McMullan, 32, Frenchmen Xavier Thomas, 45, Alexandre Pigeard, 26, and Sebastien Belanger, 36, and 39-year-old Spaniard Ignacio Echeverria also died in the attack.
Ms Boden was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal her bravery. Source: AAP
All but Mr Thomas, who was hit by the van and thrown into the Thames River, are believed to have been stabbed to death.
Another 48 people were injured in the violence, while all three attackers were shot dead by police at the scene.
The inquest is expected to start at the Old Bailey in London on Tuesday morning local time.
South Australian nurse Ms Boden, who worked at the Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, posthumously won two bravery awards as she was killed while trying to help other victims.
She was honoured by the Queen by being named on the 2018 Civilian Gallantry list and was also awarded the Australian Bravery Medal two months ago.
Ms Boden had been having dinner with two friends when they heard a commotion and she jumped up immediately and ran towards the bridge to see if anyone was hurt, the citation from the governor-general's office said.
"Moments later, the area turned to a scene of mass chaos and panic as people began screaming and running from the bridge into Borough Market. Ms Boden's two friends lost sight of her in the melee.
"As soon as they were able, they made their way back to where they thought Ms Boden would be. They located her on the pavement about 50 metres away from the restaurant. She had been attacked and severely wounded by terrorists who had been in the van, and a police officer was performing CPR on her."
Ms Boden has been dubbed 'the angel of London Bridge' for her actions that night.
The inquest is expected to run for about eight weeks.
