Final moments of sole Briton killed in Paris terror attacks described at inquest
The final moments of the only Briton killed at the Bataclan Theater during the November 13, 2015, Paris terror attacks have been described by his former girlfriend at an inquest into his death.
Nick Alexander, 35, from Colchester, was in the theater when gunmen stormed the building during a rock concert, killing 89 people.
He was the only Briton to die in the attack.
Alexander had been selling merchandise for the band Eagles of Death Metal, who were on stage at the time and survived the shootings.
The concert hall was among several targets around Paris, including the Stade de France, targeted by terrorists allied to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL).
Alexander’s former girlfriend Helen Wilson has described at the inquest how she tried to save “the love of her life” before he died in her arms.
In evidence read to Essex Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford, Wilson, who was also at the music venue, says the pair tried to “play dead” before one of the gunmen approached them and opened fire.
Wilson said she tried to protect him by covering him with her body. She says the pair held hands but she could hear his breath becoming shallower.
“I twisted my body around and gave him mouth-to-mouth. I was telling him not to leave me and I love him,” she said.
“He felt cold. His eyes had changed. He was lifeless.”
The inquest, attended by Alexander’s mother, Sheelagh, and older sister Zoe, heard Alexander was hit by two or three bullets from a high-velocity rifle.
The coroner, Caroline Beasley-Murray, concluded he had been unlawfully killed.
Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes broke down when recalling Alexander’s death in an interview shortly after the horrific massacre.
He said Alexander did not call for help after being shot “because he didn’t want anyone else to get hurt.
“Nick stayed quiet and never called for help until he bled out.”
Alexander’s parents, Barry and Sheelagh, paid tribute to their son.
“Words cannot express the sadness we feel at the loss of our precious Nick,” they said.
