Paris attacks: Maria and Patrick Moore describe how they returned to Bataclan concert hall to rescue friend

The couple managed to escape after Mr Moore used his wife as a 'battering ram' to get to a fire exit

Eagles of Death Metal performing at the Bataclan, moments before the attack (Getty Images)

A British couple who were in the Bataclan concert hall attacked by the Paris terrorists described how they returned to the scene of horror to rescue a friend hurt in the crush to escape.

Maria and Patrick Moore, from Southampton, were enjoying the gig by US rockers Eagles of Death Metal when they heard what they thought were firecrackers being let off.

The couple, who have two children, were near the front of the stage and managed to escape after Mr Moore, 49, used his wife as a “battering ram” to get to a fire exit. But as they were fleeing they saw friend Brian Sanders fall under the crowds and decided to go back inside to help him.

Mrs Moore, 50, told the Southern Daily Echo: “He was being trodden on so we went back into the doorway and yanked him up. We could hear the gunfire getting closer and closer and we ran up the street. The lead singer ran past us with his girlfriend saying: ‘Run, baby, run’.

“There was the crackle of gunshots and people stumbling on the steps. It was all so surreal and the adrenaline took over. It was all a blur.”

The unharmed couple walked with Mr Sanders to hospital for treatment to a broken collarbone as ambulances gave priority to those with gunshot wounds.

Simon Phillips, 28, a dual French and British citizen, was sitting with his girlfriend outside the La Belle Equipe bar on rue de Charonne, in the 11th district, when two men opened fire on the terrace of the cafe. He described being caught up in “scenes of war”.

“Endless bullets were sprayed by the gunmen. It was complete and utter chaos,” he said. “My girlfriend and I had to act dead so as not to be shot. The injuries some people there sustained were horrific.

“There was a lady next to me who had clearly been shot. I was covered in her blood. I had to check to see if I had been shot as I had so much blood all over me, but it was from that woman. When you’re that close to death, you’re thinking ‘this is it, this is how I’m going to die’.”

Labour MP John Mann revealed his niece spent an hour hiding in a toilet cubicle with eight other people during the attacks. She had been working at a bar close to one of the restaurants that was targeted.

Three Britons were released from hospital and have returned to the UK and 15 others are being supported for trauma by the Foreign Office and Red Cross, David Cameron said yesterday (Wed).

Meanwhile, the Muslim Council of Britain took out an advert in the national press to highlight their “united condemnation” of terrorism after the attacks in Paris. Harun Khan, deputy secretary general of the MCB, said: “The reaction has been hugely positive. It has been a really good message to us.”