Eagles of Death Metal's Merch Manager Nick Alexander Among Confirmed Casualties of Paris Attacks

(photo: Polina Buckley’s Twitter)

Nick Alexander, a London-based crew member for California rock band Eagles of Death Metal, is among the confirmed dead following Friday’s terrorist attack on Paris, France’s Bataclan concert hall, where Eagles of Death Metal were playing a sold-out show before tragedy struck.

As previously reported, all five members of the band were able to escape once they heard gunshots ring out about an hour into their set, but Alexander, who was in the venue manning the merchandise booth, was not so fortunate. He is the first reported British citizen to die in the various attacks that occurred in Paris on Friday.

Alexander, 36, was a veteran merch manager who had worked for rock bands like Sum 41, Forever the Sickest Kids, Panic! At the Disco, and Underoath. Although as of this writing Eagles of Death Metal have not issued any comment since a Friday evening Facebook post saying they were “still currently trying to determine the safety and whereabouts of all our band and crew,” Alexander’s family has released the following official statement:

“It is with huge sorrow that we can confirm that our beloved Nick lost his life at the Bataclan last night. 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.”

Alexander’s girlfriend, Polina Buckley, who had been trying to find her boyfriend via a series of panicked Twitter messages, posted a heartbreakingly captioned photo of her and Alexander on Saturday afternoon.

Helen Wilson, an American ex-pat and old friend of Alexander’s who was with Alexander at the Eagles of Death Metal concert and was shot in both legs, gave her eyewitness account of the horrifying scene to U.K. paper The Telegraph: “Nick was shot in front of me… 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. 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 [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.“

A GoFundMe memorial page for Alexander has been set up by an acquaintance of the band, Miguel Benavides. The page’s message reads: "Today or tonight raise a glass to the memory of Nick Alexander a guy doing a simple job of touring with a band and selling t-shirts going new places and making new friends.last night he ended his journey in a small theater in Paris along with many others who’s lives were cut short by hate, by misguided religion, by ignorance. Here is to you my friend may you and the others from this tragic event find peace.”

For continuing reporting on the Paris attacks, follow Yahoo News’ live blog.