SWFL 19-year-old hurt in New Orleans terrorist attack releases statement

Reporter: Olivia Jean
Published: Updated:

One of the young women from Fort Myers hurt during the New Orleans New Year’s Eve attack is speaking out for the first time.

Elle Eisele was one of two graduates of the Canterbury School in South Fort Myers struck by a truck during a terrorist attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people.

Now a University of Georgia student, the 19-year-old released a statement in her Instagram story thanking those who have shared words of support during her recovery process:

“With more gratitude than you can fathom I wanted to let my friends and family know that I am fighting and healing. Most importantly I am alive and I am so thankful that God spared Steele and myself. I’m reading your messages and I’m thankful for your support and love and one day soon I’ll be replying to you! Please keep praying for all of us survivors.”

Steele Idelson had big plans with Eisele for New Year’s Day.

They headed to New Orleans for New Year’s Eve and a special game: the college football Sugar Bowl.

Those plans changed after a terrorist drove a vehicle down the pedestrian-populated Bourbon Street, killing 14 and injuring dozens; including Idelson and Eisele.

A friend of the injured pair told WINK News that the girls were in stable condition, but they faced a long road to recovery.

Eisele is a student university of Georgia and Idelson is a student at San Diego State University.

The UGA President released a statement that reads in part: “I have spoken to the student’s family and shared my concern, support and well wishes on behalf of the entire UGA community.”

Eisele’s UGA sorority also wrote a statement that says that she is in their hearts of her sisters and they look forward to welcoming her back to her Phi Mu home in Athens.

Idelson has not released any sort of statement, Neither has her college, San Diego State University, which WINK News has reached out to.

Stay tuned to WINKNews.com, WINK News App, streaming, and on-air for any new developments on this story.

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