A British man who tried to save fellow backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung as she was stabbed in an Australian hostel has died.
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Investigators initially thought the stabbing attack, which hostel owner John Norris said lasted hours, could be motivated by extremism.
Mr Jackson fought for life for nearly a week after French backpacker Smail Ayad allegedly attacked him during a stabbing spree at the Home Hill Backpackers, about 100 kilometres south of Townsville.
Police said he now faces a second count of murder.
Ms Ayliffe described how “surreal” her life had become since police liaison officers knocked at the door last Tuesday night (London time) to give her the tragic news.
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In a statement he said: “We are bereft”.
Menna Rawlings, the British High Commissioner to Australia, tweeted her support to Mr Jackson’s family and friends.
The spokesman said investigations are continuing, but detectives will upgrade a charge of attempted murder against a 29-year-old man when he next appears at Townsville Magistrates’ Court on October 28.
Friend Rachel Eddie Edwards posted: “I keep praying it’s not real as I can’t really find the words to say how devastated I am to lose one of my greatest and longest friends. Thanks again everyone for the love and support you have given us over the last few days, we will be forever grateful”, he wrote.
Jackson’s father Les, who had flown from the United Kingdom last week to be by his son’s side, said he was immensely proud of his son’s actions.
Ms Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from Derbyshire, died at the scene.
“There is dark and evil in this world perpetrated by a few, but so much more love and light emanates from so many more”.
Smail Ayad, from France, has been charged with murdering Ayliffe-Chung and attempting to murder Jackson, BBC reports.
She plans to have her ashes spread across the world so her daughter can reach the places she will never be able to visit.
As the grieving process began for the Jackson family, the family of the other young Brit slain in the alleged attack was making its own tragic preparations to say goodbye to a handsome young girl taken too soon.
Tom’s sister Liv has taken to Facebook asking everyone to remember her brother as a friend and not as a victim. while a “You Caring” crowd-funding page has been set up, with more than sixteen thousand dollars already raised to help the family.
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He said: “Most importantly, our hearts go out to Mia and her family and friends at this terrible time”.
