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Paris attacks: Woman who pretended to be dead Isobel Bowdery to escape Bataclan concert killers gives heart wrenching account of chaos Paris attacks: Woman who pretended to be dead Isobel Bowdery to escape Bataclan concert killers gives heart wrenching account of chaos
(about 17 hours later)
As Eagles of Death Metal began their sixth song at the Bataclan theatre in Paris on Friday night, three armed gunmen opened fire on the sold-out venue.   As Eagles of Death Metal began their sixth song at the Bataclan theatre in Paris on Friday night, three armed gunmen opened fire on the sold-out venue.   
Isobel Bowdery attended the concert with her boyfriend, and wrote a harrowing account her experience - during which she lay among bodies and pretended to be dead while the attackers shot those around her.Isobel Bowdery attended the concert with her boyfriend, and wrote a harrowing account her experience - during which she lay among bodies and pretended to be dead while the attackers shot those around her.
A total of 89 people were killed at the venue, among 129 left dead in the series of co-ordinated attacks across the city.A total of 89 people were killed at the venue, among 129 left dead in the series of co-ordinated attacks across the city.
 The 22-year-old's heart-wrenching account was made in a Facebook post shared over 428,000 times and accompanied by a picture of the blood-stained T-shirt she wore that evening. It is reproduced in full below. The 22-year-old's heart-wrenching account was made in a Facebook post shared over 428,000 times and accompanied by a picture of the blood-stained T-shirt she wore that evening. It is reproduced in full below.
"You never think it will happen to you. It was just a Friday night at a rock show. The atmosphere was so happy and everyone was dancing and smiling. And then when the men came through the front entrance and began the shooting, we naively believed it was all part of the show."You never think it will happen to you. It was just a Friday night at a rock show. The atmosphere was so happy and everyone was dancing and smiling. And then when the men came through the front entrance and began the shooting, we naively believed it was all part of the show.
"It wasn't just a terrorist attack, it was a massacre. Dozens of people were shot right in front of me. Pools of blood filled the floor. Cries of grown men who held their girlfriends dead bodies pierced the small music venue. Futures demolished, families heartbroken."It wasn't just a terrorist attack, it was a massacre. Dozens of people were shot right in front of me. Pools of blood filled the floor. Cries of grown men who held their girlfriends dead bodies pierced the small music venue. Futures demolished, families heartbroken.
"In an instant. Shocked and alone, I pretended to be dead for over an hour, lying among people who could see their loved ones motionless. Holding my breath, trying to not move, not cry - not giving those men the fear they longed to see. I was incredibly lucky to survive. But so many didn't."In an instant. Shocked and alone, I pretended to be dead for over an hour, lying among people who could see their loved ones motionless. Holding my breath, trying to not move, not cry - not giving those men the fear they longed to see. I was incredibly lucky to survive. But so many didn't.
"The people who had been there for the exact same reasons as I - to have a fun Friday night were innocent. This world is cruel. And acts like this are supposed to highlight the depravity of humans and the images of those men circling us like vultures will haunt me for the rest of my life. The way they meticulously aimed at shot people around the standing area I was in the centre of without any consideration for human life. It didn't feel real. I expected any moment for someone to say it was just a nightmare."The people who had been there for the exact same reasons as I - to have a fun Friday night were innocent. This world is cruel. And acts like this are supposed to highlight the depravity of humans and the images of those men circling us like vultures will haunt me for the rest of my life. The way they meticulously aimed at shot people around the standing area I was in the centre of without any consideration for human life. It didn't feel real. I expected any moment for someone to say it was just a nightmare.
"But being a survivor of this horror lets me able to shed light on the heroes. To the man who reassured me and put his life on line to try and cover my brain whilst I whimpered, to the couple whose last words of love kept me believing the good in the world, to the police who succeeded in rescuing hundreds of people, to the complete strangers who picked me up from the road and consoled me during the 45 minutes I truly believed the boy I loved was dead, to the injured man who I had mistaken for him and then on my recognition that he was not Amaury, held me and told me everything was going to be fine despite being all alone and scared himself."But being a survivor of this horror lets me able to shed light on the heroes. To the man who reassured me and put his life on line to try and cover my brain whilst I whimpered, to the couple whose last words of love kept me believing the good in the world, to the police who succeeded in rescuing hundreds of people, to the complete strangers who picked me up from the road and consoled me during the 45 minutes I truly believed the boy I loved was dead, to the injured man who I had mistaken for him and then on my recognition that he was not Amaury, held me and told me everything was going to be fine despite being all alone and scared himself.
Members of the public gather to lay flowers and light candles at La Belle Equipe restaraunt on Rue de Charonne in Paris
People lay a memorial to honour victims of the Paris terror attacks at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia
Soccer fans display the colors of the French flag in response to the deadly terrorist attack in Paris, France before the soccer match between the New York Cosmos' and the Ottawa Fury for the North American Soccer League championship at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, USA
Pakistani Civil society activists shout slogans during a protest against Isis militants near the French consulate for the victims of the 13 November Paris attacks in Karachi, Pakistan
People gather and view messages written on the ground at Place de la Republique in Paris
French flags and a note reading "We will not let you spoil our children's lives" at the site of the attack at the Cafe Belle Equipe on rue de Charonne in the 11th district, in Paris
A rose is placed beside a bullet hole at La Belle Equipe restaraunt on Rue de Charonne following the terrorist attack in Paris. As France observes three days of national mourning members of the public continue to pay tribute to the victims of deadly attacks
People gather for a national service for the victims of the terror attack at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris
Bono and band members of U2 pay their respects and place flowers on the pavement near the scene of yesterday's Bataclan Theatre terrorist attack in Paris
A man kneels as he pays tribute to victims at Place de la Republique near the deadly attack sites in Paris
Tributes to the victims at the Place de la Republique square in Paris
AFP
An electronic billboard on a canal show solidarity with Paris in Milan
EPA
People lay down flowers and light candles to tribute victims of Friday's attacks in Paris as the Brandenburg gate is illuminated in blue, white and red in the colors of the French flag, in Berlin
Reuters
A man leaves flowers as a tribute following the deadly attacks in Paris, outside the French consulate in Istanbul
Reuters
People take pictures of flowers placed in bullet holes in the window of a Japanese restaurant next to the cafe 'La Belle Equipe'
AFP
People gather at a makeshift memorial next to the Bataclan theatre in Paris on November 14, 2015,
A woman carrying flowers cries in front of the Carillon cafe and the Petit Cambodge restaurant in Paris
AP
People gather in front of flowers that were laid outside the French embassy in Rome
AP
People react near the cafe 'La Belle Equipe' at the Rue de Charonne
AFP
A young girl places a candle in front of the Carillon cafe in Paris
AP
Flowers placed outside the cafe 'La Belle Equipe' at the Rue de Charonne in Paris, the scene for one of the attacks
AFP
A woman is comforted by others outside the Carillon cafe and the Petit Cambodge restaurant in Paris
The Brandenbourg Gate featuring French national colors is pictured in Berlin, on November 14, 2015 a day after deadly attacks in Paris
Flowers are laid in front of the French embassy in Rome
EPA
A candle is lit next to flowers outside the French Embassy in Berlin
AFP
"To the woman who opened her doors to the survivors, to the friend who offered me shelter and went out to buy new clothes so I wouldn’t have to wear this blood stained top, to all of you who have sent caring messages of support - you make me believe this world has the potential to be better. To never let this happen again. But most of this is to the 80 people who were murdered inside that venue, who weren't as lucky, who didn’t get to wake up today and to all the pain that their friends and families are going through. I am so sorry.""To the woman who opened her doors to the survivors, to the friend who offered me shelter and went out to buy new clothes so I wouldn’t have to wear this blood stained top, to all of you who have sent caring messages of support - you make me believe this world has the potential to be better. To never let this happen again. But most of this is to the 80 people who were murdered inside that venue, who weren't as lucky, who didn’t get to wake up today and to all the pain that their friends and families are going through. I am so sorry."
"There's nothing that will fix the pain. I feel privileged to be there for their last breaths. And truly believing that I would join them, I promise that their last thoughts were not on the animals who caused all this. It was thinking of the people they loved."There's nothing that will fix the pain. I feel privileged to be there for their last breaths. And truly believing that I would join them, I promise that their last thoughts were not on the animals who caused all this. It was thinking of the people they loved.
"As I lay down in the blood of strangers and waiting for my bullet to end my mere 22 years, I envisioned every face that I have ever loved and whispered I love you. Over and over again. Reflecting on the highlights of my life."As I lay down in the blood of strangers and waiting for my bullet to end my mere 22 years, I envisioned every face that I have ever loved and whispered I love you. Over and over again. Reflecting on the highlights of my life.
"Wishing that those I love knew just how much, wishing that they knew that no matter what happened to me, to keep believing in the good in people."Wishing that those I love knew just how much, wishing that they knew that no matter what happened to me, to keep believing in the good in people.
"To not let those men win. Last night, the lives of many were forever changed and it is up to us to be better people. To live lives that the innocent victims of this tragedy dreamt about but sadly will now never be able to fulfil. RIP angels. You will never be forgotten.""To not let those men win. Last night, the lives of many were forever changed and it is up to us to be better people. To live lives that the innocent victims of this tragedy dreamt about but sadly will now never be able to fulfil. RIP angels. You will never be forgotten."
The Islamic state group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris, which killed 129 people and wounded over 350.The Islamic state group has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris, which killed 129 people and wounded over 350.
President Hollande has said Isis had committed an "act of war" and insisted France would "triumph over barbarity". President Hollande has said Isis had committed an "act of war" and insisted France would "triumph over barbarity".