A young Frenchman who was one of seven people killed in Saturday's London attacks had lived in the city for nine months to "improve his English" and was working as a waiter at a bistro when he was stabbed, his father said.
Alexandre Pigeard's death was "an incredible injustice", his father, Philippe Pigeard, told AFP by telephone on Tuesday.
He was a "wonderful son, a perfect big brother," a "shining young man," he said.
Alexandre, 26, was working on the terrace of the Boro Bistro in London's Borough Market when he was fatally stabbed.
"I was watching the BBC. I recognised the first images of the neighbourhood," said his father, who was in London on Tuesday to recover his son's body.
"Normally, he would send a text message to say: 'Dad, everything's fine."
But on Saturday night, the text didn't come.
"I called. There was no answer. I quickly understood that he was involved."
The confirmation of his death came "a half-hour later."
"He had been in London for nine months, to improve his English and to have the experience. He was then supposed to have been at the opening of a restaurant in" the western French city of Nantes.
The young man was "passionate about electronic music" and also enjoyed London culture.
Three attackers smashed a van into pedestrians on London Bridge late on Saturday before going on a stabbing spree which ended with them being shot dead by police.
Seven people died and dozens were wounded in the assault, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.
A young Frenchman who was one of seven people killed in Saturday’s London attacks had lived in the city for nine months to “improve his English” and was working as a waiter at a bistro when he was stabbed, his father said.
Alexandre Pigeard’s death was “an incredible injustice”, his father, Philippe Pigeard, told AFP by telephone on Tuesday.
He was a “wonderful son, a perfect big brother,” a “shining young man,” he said.
Alexandre, 26, was working on the terrace of the Boro Bistro in London’s Borough Market when he was fatally stabbed.
“I was watching the BBC. I recognised the first images of the neighbourhood,” said his father, who was in London on Tuesday to recover his son’s body.
“Normally, he would send a text message to say: ‘Dad, everything’s fine.”
But on Saturday night, the text didn’t come.
“I called. There was no answer. I quickly understood that he was involved.”
The confirmation of his death came “a half-hour later.”
“He had been in London for nine months, to improve his English and to have the experience. He was then supposed to have been at the opening of a restaurant in” the western French city of Nantes.
The young man was “passionate about electronic music” and also enjoyed London culture.
Three attackers smashed a van into pedestrians on London Bridge late on Saturday before going on a stabbing spree which ended with them being shot dead by police.
Seven people died and dozens were wounded in the assault, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.
