October 7 survivor dies two years after girlfriend shot dead by Hamas at Nova Festival

A survivor of the October 7 attacks has died, two years after his girlfriend was shot dead by Hamas gunmen at Nova Festival.

Roei Shalev, 29, has been found dead shortly after the second anniversary of the death of his 27-year-old girlfriend Mapal Adam, who was killed by Hamas gunmen when they attacked Nova Festival. The couple had been dancing with their friend Hilly Solomon, 26, on 7 October 2023 when the sound of rocket fire drowned out the music, causing them to flee the festival grounds in their car.

As Hamas fighters closed in from all directions, the trio hid under a car, but they were spotted by gunmen and shot several times. Mr Shalev said he waited seven "agonising" hours with two bullets in his back - with his girlfriend and his friend lying dead beside him - until the Israeli army came.

A week later, his mother took her own life. "In just one week, I lost three of the most important women to me in the world," Mr Shalev wrote on a fundraising page for festival survivors and their families.

"That day was the darkest I've ever known. In the months that followed, I struggled to cope.

Flashbacks and anxiety consumed me, and sleep became a distant memory," he added. Now, two years after the horrifying attack, Mr Shalev was found dead in a burning car near Poleg Beach in Netanya, Israel.

Police have opened an investigation, Israeli media reports. Shortly before his body was found, Mr Shalev had posted a note on his Instagram account, saying he "can't go on anymore".

"I've never felt such deep and burning pain and suffering in my life. It's eating me up inside," Mr Shavel wrote.

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Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. Alternatively, you can call Mind's support line on 0300 102 1234, or NHS on 111..