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Paris attacks: British man Nick Alexander among victims at Eagles of Death Metal Bataclan gig

Mr Alexander was selling merchandise at the Eagles of Death Metal gig where more than 80 people were killed

Katie Grant
Saturday 14 November 2015 17:31 GMT
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(EPA)

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A British man who died in the Batalan music hall siege has been named as Nick Alexander.

Mr Alexander, 36, from Colchester, Essex, had been at the venue selling merchandise for the band Eagles of Death Metal, who were performing there.

Scores escaping Bataclan Concert Hall

“It is with huge sorrow that we can confirm that our beloved Nick lost his life at the Bataclan last night,” said his family in a statement released late on 14 November.

“Nick was not just our brother, son and uncle, he was everyone's best friend - generous, funny and fiercely loyal.

“Nick died doing the job he loved and we take great comfort in knowing how much he was cherished by his friends around the world.

“Thank you for your thoughts and respect for our family at this difficult time. Peace and light.”

Fears had been mounting over the whereabouts of Mr Alexander. Earlier Mr Alexander’s girlfriend appealed for information amid concerns he had been killed.

“Someone please help me find my boyfriend Nick Alexander. Merch guy for EODM,” she said on Twitter.

Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess shared the post with his 100,000 followers but by mid-afternoon, friends of Mr Alexander had begun posting messages of condolence, though no official announcement had been made confirming his death.

Speaking from New York, Ms Buckley said Mr Alexander's family in the UK had access to the emergency numbers set up after the attacks.

She said she had received "no news yet" from the authorities about her boyfriend.

Later on she posted a photograph of herself with Mr Alexander alongside a message saying: “You are and always will be the love of my life, Nick Alexander.”

Helen Wilson, an American expat who was wounded in both legs spoke from her hospital bed about how she had tried to keep her friend alive as they lay on the floor of the concert hall.

“Nick was shot in front of me,” Ms Wilson, 49, told The Telegraph.

Mourners gather in front of the Petit Cambodge and Le Carillon restaurants on November 14, 2015 in Paris
Mourners gather in front of the Petit Cambodge and Le Carillon restaurants on November 14, 2015 in Paris (Getty)

“We heard a couple of noises outside and people started running into the club. We didn’t know what was going on.

“Then maybe five, six guys came in with machine guns and shotguns and just started shooting people. It was mayhem.

“When anyone started running they would shoot them down. So we got down on the floor. I was afraid whenever I heard a step behind me... they machine-gunned everybody.

“Nick was in front of me when we were lying on the ground and somebody moved and they just turned round and started shooting us.

People light candles at a makeshift memorial in Lille, northern France,to pay tribute to the victims of the terror attack in Paris
People light candles at a makeshift memorial in Lille, northern France,to pay tribute to the victims of the terror attack in Paris (Getty)

“His back was to me and I couldn’t see what happened and I tried to keep him talking and then I tried to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and they [the gunmen] were just sort of in the shadows and they would shoot if anyone said anything.

“Then he couldn’t breathe anymore and I held him in my arms and told him I loved him. He was the love of my life.”

Ms Wilson, who was taken to Saint-Antoine hospital in Paris, said when emergency workers helped her out of the building, she lost sight of Mr Alexander.

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