Bravery reflected in gallantry award
JUST over two years after Thomas Jackson succumbed to the stab wounds he suffered while trying to aid fellow British backpacker Mia Ayliffe Chung, he was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his bravery that night.
Thomas’s parents, Sandra and Les, accepted the award on his behalf.
Daniel Richards, another backpacker who also tried to assist Mia, was also awarded the gallantry medal in 2018.
At the time Tom’s father, Les
Jackson, said it was a bittersweet moment to accept the award for his son.
“While this is clearly a bittersweet moment for our family and friends – we
happening in the future”. The report of findings revealed Mia, 20, died at the scene from a stab wound to the heart while Thomas, 30, died from a stab wound to his head.
Ayad will never stand trial for the deaths after he was deso wish Tom was here to receive the award himself – we are inestimably proud and grateful that his actions on that awful day have been recognised in this way,” he said.
“He will always be our hero.” According to findings by coroner Nerida Wilson, on the night of August 23, 2016, the “scene at the hostel was one of chaos, confusion and fear”.
Daniel found Mia in the bathroom cubicle before opening it from the inside and rendering “whatever effective aid” he and Tom could.
“Mr Richards kept pressure on the
termined to have been of unsound mind at the time of the incident and was under the influence of cannabis.
In a statement to the Townsville Bulletin, Les Jackson said the family was disappointed concerns raised of ilwounds and attempted to reassure Mia,” the findings stated.
As Thomas and Ayad grappled over a knife, after Ayad had attacked Thomas, Daniel extracted himself from the bathroom and went out on the balcony, screaming for help.
Describing the moment Mia died in his arms, Daniel told The Sun in 2017 he held her chest and comforted her.
“I talked to her, comforted her and sadly told her everything was going to be OK,” he said.
legally confiscated passports by the hostel were not addressed in the coroner’s findings.
“We accept that following due process Ayad was found to be of unsound mind at the time of the attacks and consequently criminal proceedings
against him were dropped,” Mr Jackson said.
“We are somewhat disappointed that certain practices of the hostel owner, in particular that of illegally confiscating passports of guests has never been satisfactorily addressed.”
Mr Jackson said he had spoken with his son the day before the frenzied attack at the hostel, where Tom stated hostel staff “still had his passport and he couldn’t have it back until his rental debt was cleared”.
“However, we also accept that that did not directly contribute to what Ayad did.
“Would Tom have still been there at the time if he’d had his passport? We’ll never know.”
Mr Jackson said the passport was eventually turned over to them with the remainder of Tom’s personal effects.
Ms Wilson acknowledged Tom’s bravery in her findings, expressing her condolences to the families involved.
“Both Mr Thomas Leslie Jackson and Mr Daniel Leigh Richards exhibited extraordinary bravery and compassion remaining with Mia rendering assistance while their own safety was still at risk,” she said.
“Thomas sustained fatal injuries during those efforts.
“I express my sincerest condolences to both Mia and Thomas’s parents, family, and friends for their tragic loss.”