Tragedy as UC Berkeley student, 20, who was studying in France is confirmed as one of the 84 people killed in Bastille Day truck massacre in Nice

A University of California, Berkeley, student has been confirmed as one of the 84 victims of last week's terror attack in the French Riviera.

Nicolas Leslie, 20, was a junior at the university's College of Natural Resources and was studying technology entrepreneurship at the European Innovation Academy in the Mediterranean city of Nice as part of Berkeley's Study Abroad program.

Leslie, from the San Diego area, and two other foreign students enrolled in the academy were reported missing after Thursday's massacre, which occurred on Bastille Day, a national holiday. 

In a statement, the university said Leslie's death was reported to campus officials by the FBI.  

'This is tragic, devastating news,' said university chancellor Nicholas Dirks. 'All of us in the UC Berkeley family - both here on campus, and around the world - are heartbroken to learn that another promising young student has been lost to senseless violence.

'I join Nick’s parents, friends and the entire campus community in condemning this horrific attack, and in mourning the loss of one of our own,' he added.

Leslie's death was confirmed after an extensive search by his family, friends and fellow students, who had been distributing fliers in Nice asking for any information on his whereabouts.

His family had hoped he dodged the truck and was one of the injured victims in hospital after he failed to return to his student housing unit.

He is the third American to be confirmed dead in the attack.