Backpacker stabbed trying to save woman in hostel attack dies
A BACKPACKER who suffered stab wounds while trying to defend a fellow Briton during a knife attack at a hostel in Australia has died in hospital.
Tom Jackson, from Congleton in Cheshire, was repeatedly stabbed in the head, face and body last Tuesday after rushing to help Mia AyliffeChung, 21, from Wirksworth in Derbyshire.
The suspect, Smail Ayad, 29, a Frenchman, had apparently become infatuated with Ms Ayliffe-Chung and grabbed her from her bed and repeatedly stabbed her. She died at the scene.
All three were staying at a hostel in the town of Home Hill, about 60 miles south of Townsville in Queensland. Mr Jackson’s father, Les, flew to Australia last week to be at his son’s beside. He said yesterday: “Our darling Tom has left us and the world is a poorer place.
“There is dark and evil in this world perpetrated by a few, but so much more love and light emanates from so many more. That thought will sustain us over the coming days.”
Les Jackson had earlier expressed his pride in his son’s bravery and thanked the Australian community for their support.
“There are many and varied reasons why we are, and always will be, immensely proud of Tom,” Mr Jackson said in a statement on Sunday. “His actions in response to this horrific attack only add to that sense of pride.”
Mr Jackson had worked as a free- lance journalist before travelling to Australia.
Police last week praised his “absolutely fantastic” and “completely selfless” actions in trying to aid Ms AyliffeChung.
Ayad will now face additional charges after the attack in which two people died, as well as a dog, and several police officers were assaulted.
Despite shouting “Allahu akbar” – Arabic for “God is greater” – during the attack and his arrest, he is not believed to have been motivated by Islamic extremism and had no known criminal record.
Menna Rawlings, the British High Commissioner to Australia, expressed her sorrow at Mr Jackson’s death.
Ayad is due to appear in court in Townsville on Oct 28.