Tom Jackson, 30, died on Tuesday – one week after being stabbed and critically injured as he tried to shield Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, during the terrifying attack at a hostel in Home Hill, Queensland.
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Ms Ayliffe was accompanied to Australia by Mia’s half sister Nicola Hawkridge-Chung.
Mr Jackson spent the last six days fighting for his life, but yesterday his family revealed they had to turn off his life-support machine at Townsville Hospital, Queensland.His father Les, 58, who had flown 10,000 miles from the family home in Congleton, Cheshire, said: ‘We are bereft.
Her boyfriend, Jamison Stead, said she was a “beautiful soul” who had “fallen in love with the country and its people”. Her daughter’s funeral will draw on a range of religions to create a multi-faith funeral reminiscent of Mia’s life, she said.
“If Tom had survived it would have meant that at least something had come out of this that is not just evil”, she said.
“But he didn’t and now his family are in the same place I am”.
A photo taken from the Facebook page of Tom Jackson.
“Tom is an incredible young man and it was an act of exceptional bravery. I was in shock for a long time”.
“If he [Ayad] is capable of contrition, and of realising what he has done, I feel pity for him.”
Les Jackson said the many offers of support they had received had not been ignored, but they were simply focusing on their son’s condition.
“There was no inkling that she felt under threat, apart from spiders and snakes”. “She was a special girl”, Ms Ayliffe told Network Ten.
‘Thanks again to everyone for the love and support you have given us over the last few days, we will be forever grateful.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was so moved by his efforts that she has nominated him for a bravery award.
She went on: “Mr Jackson’s reported actions of putting his own life before the life of hers represents an extraordinary act of courage and is deserving of recognition for this courageous act”.
His friends have remembered him as selfless and friendly, with an ability to put strangers at ease.
“She has friends all over the place”.
All that I ask is that you don’t remember Tom as a victim.
However, Ms. Ayliffe admitted they are leaving out verse eight – “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” – as it is “something of a challenge”.
“I also think that wise little girl was here for a reason”, she says, “and part of my journey will be to find out what that reason was”.
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Red Cross counsellor Dale Preston, who was in Home Hill helping those affected, said the other backpackers at the hostel had planted two trees in memory of the victims and paid tribute to the local community.
