A coroner has ruled an Essex victim of the Paris terror attacks was unlawfully killed as an inquest heard how he tried to “play dead” to avoid being shot.
Nick Alexander, from Weeley, was at the Bataclan theatre in the French capital when it was stormed by gunmen midway through a rock concert on November 13 last year.
A total of 89 people died at the venue in the attack, including Mr Alexander, 35.
An inquest into his death held at the Essex Coroners’ Court in Chelmsford this morning heard from Mr Alexander’s ex-girlfriend Helen Wilson, who described how she tried to save the “love of her life” before he died in her arms.
Ms Wilson said she tried to shield him from the bullets as Islamic State gunmen opened fire shortly after 10pm.
In evidence read to the court Ms Wilson said the pair tried to “play dead” before one of the gunmen approached them and opened fire.
Ms Wilson said she tried to protect him by covering him with her body, before she felt a burning sensation in her legs.
She said: “Nick said he had been shot. He couldn’t move and was in pain.”
Ms Wilson told the court the pair held hands but she could hear his breaths becoming shallower.
She said: “I twisted my body around and gave him mouth-to-mouth. I was telling him not to leave me and I love him.”
But he told her he was dying, and Ms Wilson said he died as she tried to revive him.
The inquest, attended by his mother Sheelagh and older sister Zoe, heard Mr Alexander, who was living in London at the time of his death, was hit in the stomach and chest by two or three bullets from a high-velocity rifle.
Caroline Beasley-Murray, senior coroner for Essex, concluded he had been unlawfully killed.
Mr Alexander, a former Colchester Royal Grammar School pupil, had been selling merchandise for the US rock band Eagles Of Death Metal, who were on stage at the Bataclan at the time and survived the massacre.
Speaking after the inquest Zoe Alexander said he “lived his life to the full”.
With her mother at her side, she said: “On November 13 last year our precious Nick, along with 88 others, lost his life in an indiscriminate act of terror at the Bataclan theatre.
“Nick was a much-loved son, brother, uncle and friend, a strong, gentle, generous and funny man who lived his life to the full.
“We were blessed to have him in our lives and we miss him beyond measure.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here