Paris massacre was David’s second time cheating death

GOING TO ROCK CONCERT ON THEIR CITY BREAK WAS ‘11TH HOUR DECISION’

A DUHALLOW man cheated death for the second time in four years after he survived the Paris terrorist attacks when he was shot in the leg.

David Nolan (30) of Kilcorney, Millstreet was hailed a hero for the remarkable courage he displayed when he threw himself on top of his girlfriend, Katie Healy, while covering her head and chest as best as he could at the Bataclan Theatre. He was shot at point blank range with a Kalashnikov

assault rifle as he was enjoying a rock concert with Katie.

Incredibly, he survived the attack in which almost 90 people died during a one hour long atrocity in which terrorists first used assault rifles before detonating suicide vests as elite French commandos began to storm the venue.

The young man suffered severe trauma to the leg from the impact of the high velocity bullet.

It is understood he was injured at the very beginning of the Bataclan attack - resulting in him having lost a lot of blood before he was treated at the scene by paramedics and then rushed to a Paris hospital.

He underwent emergency surgery in the early hours of Saturday morning.

His family were notified on Saturday and relatives flew to Paris to attend his hospital bedside.

Surgeons are now hopeful he will recover from his injuries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs are now providing consular support for the Nolan family in Paris.

Just four years ago, David was climbing a glacier in New Zealand when a massive rockfall took place. He was uninjured in the incident but the footage he shot with his phone went on to make TV news bulletins in New Zealand and Australia.

Millstreet neighbours last weekend rallied to support the Nolan family with messages of support, offers of help and prayers being offered locally for David’s safe recovery.

David is well known in the north Cork community for his deep love of sport and music. A keen football player with Millstreet, he became a lifelong fan of Cork City FC and is understood to have attended the recent FAI Cup final.

The young man is also a keen Munster and Ireland rugby fan.

David is also a keen music fan and locals said he attends several concerts each summer at Cork’s Live At The Marquee event.

It is believed he travelled to Paris for a city break with Katie, and only attended the Bataclan concert as “an eleventh hour decision”.

“They are a lovely family and hugely respected in Millstreet. I know David has a few brothers and everyone here is now praying for his safe recovery,” one neighbour said.

“From what we have heard he was certainly one of the lucky ones.”