Martin Marro, the Newton man who was injured in a terrorist attack in New York City Tuesday that killed five of his friends, is expected to make a “swift recovery,’’ his family said in a statement Friday.

“The family of Martin Marro is extremely thankful for the outpouring of compassion and concern from their many friends, colleagues and the community,’’ the statement read. “Martin is receiving terrific care at a hospital in New York and is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries.’’

The family of Marro, a senior researcher at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, asked for privacy as he recovers, as well as prayers for the families of the other victims injured and killed in the attack.

Marro works for the cardiovascular and metabolic diseases group at Novartis, according to a statement from the company.

Friends in Newton, where Marro lives with his wife and two young children, have texted frequently with his family and even driven down to New York City to see him since they learned of the attack.

Marro was riding a bike with former high school classmates who had traveled from Argentina to see him and celebrate the 30th anniversary of their graduation. Five of the classmates were among the eight people killed when a man police have identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov drove a truck into a crowded bike path along the Hudson River in Manhattan.

Sid Chaudhry, a friend who had just seen Marro and his family last Saturday, was stunned when he learned of the attack.

“My wife came rushing upstairs and said, ‘Martin was in an accident in New York,’ ’’ Chaudhry said in a phone interview. “ ‘He was involved in the terrorist situation.’ ’’

The two men met seven years ago when their children both began classes at the same private Catholic elementary school in Newton, Mount Alvernia Academy. Their sons played on the same basketball team, and the men’s families grew close.

“We’ve just grown to know each other and think alike over the years,’’ Chaudhry said. “They’re a great group. [Martin] is a real tenacious guy. Thorough, diligent. We both coach youth soccer for our boys so he’s very passionate about soccer.’’

Chaudhry has been keeping up with Marro’s progress through texts with Marro’s wife, Mariana Dagatti, who rushed down to Manhattan on Tuesday when Marro was taken to Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.

Marro has at least a few broken bones, Chaudhry said.

He hopes to see the couple this weekend and offer his support.

“They lost a lot of very, very close friends through the tragedy,’’ Chaudhry said. “I think clearly everyone is quite a bit shaken up.’’

Maria Cramer can be reached at mcramer@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @GlobeMCramer.