Woman who survived Paris terror attack by pretending to be dead shares harrowing account of her experience | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Sunday 15 November 2015

Woman who survived Paris terror attack by pretending to be dead shares harrowing account of her experience

Isobel Bowdery was at the Bataclan concert with her boyfriend on Friday night when the armed gunmen opened fire on the audience, leaving 89 people dead and many seriously wounded. The 22-year-old shared her traumatic experience in a Facebook post on Saturday, November 14. The post which was accompanied by a photo of the blood-stained T-shirt she wore that night has been shared over 650k times and garnered over 2million Likes. Below is what she wrote...
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 naiively 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 infront 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. 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 suppose to highlight the depravity of humans and the images of those men circuling us like vultures will haunt me for the rest of my life. The way they meticoulsy 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 succeded 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, 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 wouldnt 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 didnt 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 priviledged to be there for their last breaths. And truly beliving 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. Wishing that those i love knew just how much, wishing that they knew that no matter what happened to me, to keep belieivng 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.

78 comments:

Davido's driver said...

Touching story. Rip to the dead

Davido's driver said...

I can imagine her state of shock atm. But this woman go like wayo for real life

Unknown said...

Tears...

Muy said...

Hmmm, may God grant rest 2 d departed souls n spare d lives of d injured. Signs of d endtime

Unknown said...

Thank goodness she survived it! #prayforParis.

Beautyfoch said...

So touching. RIP to the dead.

Unknown said...

Hmmmmmmmmmmm #lipseal

Juleslouis said...

Hmmm. Talk of second chance at life. RIP to all who lost their lives.

Ethel said...

My eyes became watery after reading this! Damn! The moment when your life flashes before ur eyes! RIP Angels! Lord pls have mercy on those souls. The heart of man is really wicked #saddening

Unknown said...

Dis is heart wrenching. Thank God for her life. Linda take note!

Unknown said...

Dis is heart wrenching. Thank God for her life. Linda take note!

Unknown said...

What a cruel world!
Terrorism is something even the oracles can't see its end from here. As long as the world lasts and as long as Islam exists, mankind will forever be doomed to this fate.



Sincerely speaking the mind of Amadioha

Unknown said...

Chai! Obi agbawaam.. Happy for you woman, may others souls Rip

Unknown said...

Touching!

Unknown said...

Oh God.. This leaves tears in my eyes. It's so tragic.. God please save this world

MADE IN NIGERIA said...

Oh Lord, d pain dis bastards cause us....may the souls of d innocent, rest in peace. Lucky girl!

Esther said...

This is just so sad, you really never know.

Unknown said...

So sad, and a very touchy piece too. RIP to them. May God console their families and friends!























#TeamBlessed#

Anonymous said...

Hello ooo,

How is this smear the only stain you get on your top after an hour on a blood soaked floor of such a disaster?

Somebody please upload a snapshot of the Abuja bombings so these people can understand the meaning of harrowing!!!

Linda can fit to annoy person sef. We dey under siege here nobody get our time, them do france small show people begin do mumu about.

#Pray for Humanity!!!

Anonymous said...

This is so touching....i felt like crying





#Iwashere

Unknown said...

This is too sad' may d angels R.I.P. Linda play me see u again by whiz khalifa

Unknown said...

Hmmmmm...

Sadly hav b thru dis near death experience b4 but in my case was car accident@d age of 7 where I was crushed beneath d car but miraculously I survived.

Up to date I still can tell how I survived dat car crushed bcos I was not only hit by d car but also was under d vehicle for almost 10minutes wit my right hand under d tyre of d vehicle.

If u hav ever b so close to death, u wil surely apr8 people aroud u and luv life for wht it throws towards u.

RIP 2d dead and speedy recovery 2d injured.
Lord hav mercy on our souls IJN.

Comment frm ROYAL PRIESTHOOD (royalpriesthood007@gmail.com)

Anonymous said...

Impressive attitude

Unknown said...

extremely painful....rip dear ones


MISSVEE

Anonymous said...

May there souls rest in peace...Amen

Unknown said...

It is rily painful,but tnx God u where alive

Unknown said...

God really save her

Celine Oma said...

These people can't just thank God? Who spared ur life woman?

Anonymous said...

I can't hold back my tears

Anonymous said...

I can't hold back my tears

Anonymous said...

God you are indeed patient....I am moved by this , rest in peace to all the departed souls.

Anonymous said...

Just when you think we humans as a species can't get any more depraved, we find a way to go even lower. These acts of terror are so senseless and unjustifiable.

obietrezy said...

Well you guys should feel what we normally feel from the boko haram sect, its just the way of life now and you guys shouldn't make their death look like a big deal... Its 21st century and its just the beginning because more will still happen in other countries, we grow in hatred and envy so nothing will ever stop these killings until God decides to put a final stop to it but as long as we humans are still breathing then more will keep coming.... Jor oh

Unknown said...

Damn! That is so... My God I can't imagine

Anonymous said...

Wow! So so sad and very touching. May the souls of the victims rest in peace with the most high God. And may He touch the hearts of these evil doers so they see that all this is truly senseless. May he protect everyone of us. In Jesus mighty name, Amen.

Unknown said...

May God rest their souls. Amen. and bless God for keeping u alive

Victor Emeka Isaac said...

Breathes Out!!!





Also Check www.vabadon.com

Unknown said...

Chai, so pathetic. I envisaged the the scene. May Jehovah give their families the heart to bear this irreparable loss

Anonymous said...

God have mercy on us.. Amen

Unknown said...

That was some experience

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Unknown said...

That was some experience

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Anonymous said...

Religion expired a long time ago in me. I stopped going to Church then revived it . Switched over to Islam then rejected it. All because I know God ordered no man to kill another or any animal for him, nor that paradise awaits anyone other than in this life.

Anonymous said...

Tears in my eyes. Sad World. We must be prepared for Eternity at all times

Dami said...

Really touching!

Unknown said...

Very touching, thank God you made it and to those whose lives were lost, may their souls rest in peace.

Naijaserver said...

RIP Angels

Naijaserver said...

RIP Angels

Unknown said...

Very touching. May the souls of the faithfuls departed through the mercy of God rest in Peace. Amen.

Anonymous said...

Deep breath!
This is just sad,really sad.








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NaijaDeltaBabe said...

Dat wisdom was on point.

Baddest Puta said...

Omg for I moment I imagined myself there, not a nice imagination

Oluwadamilola said...

Too sad.. I only see these crazy things in movies.. May God have mercy on this world..

Unknown said...

You are very foolish for this comments

Unknown said...

Tears rolling down my face. May God have mercy on us

ary said...

And that is the jerk of it all, it happens in an instant, anywhere, anytime. We have to be vigilant and pray cos we live in troubled times.

Unknown said...

She's lucky.
~D great anonymous!

Anonymous said...

Shame on them,they would continue to die million times in their graves and shall not see the gate of heaven, shame to those who killed others.

HOT said...

What crime have the people of Iraq, C.A.R Syria or Palestine committed. Are they also not innocent? Should they not stop killing them also? Do they not also have a right to peaceful living?

Unknown said...

Trust me you cannot.

Linda's protégé said...

So so touching...

* teary*

Anonymous said...

The other one that died, who let them die! Just shut up about this one first okay?

Unknown said...

it a normal thing in nigeria and nobody change their dp to nigeria flag but people are changing their dp to france flag ,what annoyed me most is those crazy nigerians who also change thier dp to france flag,they have no feelings for nigeria but for france i pray boko haram visit you people too

OSINANL said...

Islam is evil...

Unknown said...

May dear gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.
Thank God for saving u. May God contineously bless you

Unknown said...

May dear gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.
Thank God for saving u. May God contineously bless you

abujakenneth said...

My family stand with you, France

Anonymous said...

RIP to d dead....
abdusalem...
almuhamed....
take it or leave it, islam is terror.
i know u wanna criticize, but before you do i'd rather u wake up wipe your eyes and look around d world.

lovely said...

The heart of man is desperately wicked the Bible says who can understand it. God have mercy on us in these last days give us grace to stand amen

Unknown said...

God rili loves us because he gave her a second chance

Anonymous said...

Awww... crying... RIP to them

Chiisunshine(carolips) said...

I cried

yawanow said...

Thank God for her life. RIP to the dead

Unknown said...

CHAAAI!

Unknown said...

So pathetic, God take control, thank God she was saved to tell the story! Tears*

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Anonymous said...

Abraham is the cause of all the problems of this world today! If he had not gone in into his maid, Ishmael would not have been born to this world and this problem would not have existed today. May God help us with the bastards!

Unknown said...

This is so touching. It feels good to be given a second chance to live. Now that she had been given a second chance, she should utilize it well. She wasnt more righteous than those that died, she survived by Gods grace and im happy for her. RIP to the dead.

Unknown said...

So sad, thank God u survive it. RIP to the dead

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