'Last minute decision to stay another day cost Danny his life'

A BRITISH photographer's fateful last-minute decision to stay in Israel for "one more day" has cost him his life.

-  Robert Kellaway

Danny Darlington and his German girlfriend Carolin Bohl were due to leave their accommodation the night before the wave of brutal Hamas attacks.

But Danny, 35, who lived in Berlin, and German Carolin decided to extend their stay to explore Nir Oron, a kibbutz in the south of the country close to the border with Gaza.

That was one of the first communities targeted when Hamas terrorists stormed the border early on Saturday morning.

Danny's sister Shelley wrote on social media yesterday: "My baby brother Dan was murdered by terrorists alongside his beautiful friend Carolin.

"Only days before, he was riding bike, laughing, taking photographs of sunsets and enjoying life's simple pleasures.

"He was meant to leave for Tel Aviv the night before but decided to stay one more day to explore the kibbutz a decision that has changed all our lives forever and one that cost him his life. Our community has been destroyed."

Ms Bohl's sister Anja Pasquesi added: "We are broken and are working to cope with this unimaginable tragedy."

At least 10 British citizens are among the 800 killed and 2,200 wounded in the terrorist outrages, official sources have said.

Bernard Cowan, 57, was named last night by his family as one of those feared dead.

He grew up near Glasgow before moving out to the Middle East. 

His brother Colin Cowan said: "He was the kindest, most generous person you would ever meet."

The first Briton confirmed dead was Nathanel Young, 20, a former pupil at the Jewish Free School in North London who was serving in the Israel Defence Forces.

Jake Marlowe, 26, who attended the same school, is missing. He was working at the Supernova Festival, near the Gaza Strip, when militants Grief... Shelley mourns Danny stormed in.