The father of a British girl reportedly shot dead by her neighbor while playing in her garden still doesn’t know she was killed, we can reveal.
Adrian Thornton was put into an induced coma after allegedly being shot in the head by 71-year-old Dirk Raats. The bullet lodged in the 52-year-old’s brain and the surgeons were unable to operate.
Adrian’s family say he has now regained consciousness, but his family fears telling him the devastating news that daughter Solaine, 11, is dead will affect his recovery.
They say he has a little movement of his arms and legs and has spoken a few words.
“Adrian has been out of a coma for a few days,” says a family member.
Adrian Thornton (pictured) was put into an induced coma after allegedly being shot in the head by 71-year-old Dirk Raats. The bullet lodged in the 52-year-old’s brain and the surgeons were unable to operate.
Adrian’s family says he has now regained consciousness, but his family fears telling him the devastating news that daughter Solaine, 11, (pictured with her mother Rachael) is dead will affect his recovery
“He still doesn’t know Solaine’s dead. His family there didn’t tell him because he’s not good enough.
“How is he going to cope with the news that Solaine is gone? How do you deal with the knowledge that you have lost your daughter? They will have to be careful to choose the right moment, but how do you tell someone such terrible news?’
Solaine was reportedly shot earlier this month as her family enjoyed a barbecue at their home, in the sleepy French hamlet of Saint-Herbot, Brittany.
Her parents Adrian and Rachael, 49, were also shot in the attack.
Rachael underwent surgery to remove bullets from her neck and back.
The pair met at university in Oldham, Greater Manchester, before moving to France about 15 years ago.
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Solaine was reportedly shot earlier this month as her family enjoyed a barbecue at their home in the sleepy French hamlet of Saint-Herbot, Brittany.
The source added: “Although Adrian is out of his induced coma he is still very bad.
‘He’s on a drug-management program to help with the pain.
“It really is a horrible situation and a real struggle for everyone.
“Rachael is absolutely distraught, but has to be strong for her Solaine’s sister, Celeste.
“It’s appalling that one person can wreak all this havoc.”
Rachael’s sister Rosalind, son-in-law Neil and Adrian’s father, Irvin, and sister, Kylie, flew to France to offer support.
Grandma Christine Rhodes — known as Grams to her granddaughters — previously paid tribute to Solaine.
Dirk Raats (left), 71, was formally charged with the murder of Solaine Thornton and the attempted murders of Adrian and Rachael Thornton
She said, “Solaine was such a sweet girl.
“The last time I spoke to Solaine, she told me she had been writing for her school paper and she was so upset.
She said ‘Grams, I wrote in the paper about a girl who was 13 years old who was bullied and she took her own life’ and then she was dead that night.
‘She was a very special little girl. She loved everyone.
‘She loved everyone. She loved her animals and had no evil bone in her body.
“She had nice big eyes and was hopping around a bit.
Grandma Christine Rhodes — known as Grams to her granddaughters — previously paid tribute to Solaine. She said, “Solaine was such a sweet girl. The last time I spoke to Solaine, she told me she had been writing for her school paper and she was so upset’
Tribute left for Solaine. A GoFundMe page has been set up on behalf of Solaine’s family to raise money for her funeral
‘She was so sweet. She just came up and hugged you and she talked to me on the phone and told me all kinds of stories about her animals.
“We’ve lost Solaine. It’s absolutely horrible.’
Christine said the family had booked a trip to the UK for next month and the girls were excited to travel to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Christine added, “They were so looking forward to it.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up on behalf of Solaine’s family to raise money for her funeral.