A FRIEND of a music merchandiser killed in the massacre at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris has described how she held him in her arms before he died.
Nick Alexander was described by his family as "everyone's best friend", and they said he died "doing the job he loved".
The 36-year-old from Colchester in Essex, had been selling merchandise for rock band Eagles of Death Metal when their concert was targeted by attackers who shot people and took hostages in the venue before blowing themselves up as police stormed the concert hall.
Helen Wilson told the Telegraph she and Mr Alexander, who had previously been in a relationship, lay down on the floor when up to six people with machine guns and shotguns began to shoot.
The American, who moved to Paris where she runs a catering company, said someone moved and the attackers turned to them and fired shots.
Miss Wilson, who was shot in the leg during the attack, said she tried to give Mr Alexander mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
She said: "Then he couldn't breathe any more and I held him in my arms and told him I loved him. He was the love of my life."
Mr Alexander's girlfriend Polina Buckley was one of the many relatives of those feared dead in the attacks who used social media to get information about his whereabouts.
After confirmation of his death she posted pictures of the pair on Twitter, writing: "You are and always will be the love of my life, Nick Alexander", and "Sleep tight, my sweet prince, Nick Alexander".
The heartbroken partner of the victim rocked back and forth in grief, sobbing outside the French Consulate on Fifth Avenue on Saturday night.
“I’ll never see him again,” cried Polina Buckley, who lives in New York.
She covered her face as she wept on the ground next to a framed photo of her boyfriend of three years, at a makeshift memorial to the victims of Friday’s attacks in Paris.
In a statement his family said: "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."
Mr Alexander had been part of the Africa Express music project, founded by Blur's Damon Albarn and writer and campaigner Ian Birrell, when it toured Britain in 2012.
He sold merchandise on the trip and was described by Mr Birrell as "a hero".
"He loved music, lived with a smile on his face, died a hero," he tweeted.
A witness in the Bataclan said one of the gunmen shouted "Allahu Akbar" and said "This is for Syria". Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the atrocities.
Just read Nick Alexander was killed in Paris. He was our tour merchandiser on last year's tour. Sending love & condolences to his family
— Yusuf / Cat Stevens (@YusufCatStevens) November 15, 2015
Rev David Newman said Mr Alexander was a "very, very thoughtful" person who was brought up in the church.
He told ITV News: "He was an acolyte in church. Always very reliable. He was at the grammar school. Like most young people, when he went off to university we saw much less of him.
"But when he came home he came along with his family to church and with all his globetrotting with his work since then, he has always attended when he can and been a very welcome presence with us.
"He was very, very thoughtful - especially to older people. Even when he was a schoolboy he used to go and help by reading to blind people, and many other kindnesses that perhaps one might not expect from a boy of that age.
"Throughout his life he has been the same person, and that person is one of kindliness and thoughtfulness."
Singer Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) tweeted: "Just read Nick Alexander was killed in Paris. He was our tour merchandiser on last year's tour. Sending love & condolences to his family."
Drummer Patrick Carney from American rock band the Black Keys told Rolling Stone magazine Mr Alexander was "just a sweetheart" and his bandmate Dan Auerbach said he lived for rock and roll.
The Nick Alexander memorial fund has so far raised more than 48,000 US dollars (about £31,000) online.
Miguel Benavides created the fundraising page on gofundme.com and a note on the page says: "My initial goal for this fund was to benefit my friend in the most direct way that was calling to me.
"I personally want to help his family. Two things happened: we reached a significant amount quickly, and our extended tour family pointed out a basic rule of the road: we take care of our own, even the ones we don't personally know.
"Taking this to heart, we are converting this fund to taking care of more than just Nick."
