Briton who died in Paris attacks was “unlawfully killed”- coroner

An coroner at an inquest into the death of a Briton killed in the Paris attacks has concluded that he had been unlawfully killed.

Nick Alexander (35) from Colchester in Essex was in the Bataclan music venue when gunmen stormed the building midway through a rock concert on November 13 last year, killing 89 people.

His former girlfriend described how she tried to save the “love of her life” before he died in her arms.

Alexander had been selling merchandise for the US rock band Eagles Of Death Metal, who were on stage at the time and survived the massacre.

Helen Wilson, an ex-girlfriend who was with Mr Alexander that evening, said she tried to shield him from the bullets as Islamic State gunmen opened fire shortly after 10pm.

In evidence read to Essex Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford, 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 by two or three bullets from a high-velocity rifle.

Caroline Beasley-Murray, senior coroner for Essex, concluded that he had been unlawfully killed.

PA