A British backpacker hero has died after being stabbed in the brain as he tried in vain to protect a woman from being attacked by a ‘psychic’ French gunman at an Australian hostel , an investigation has said.
Thomas Jackson, 30, came to the aid of Mia Ayliff-Chung, 20, after she was stabbed multiple times at a boarding house in Home Hill, Queensland, on August 23, 2016.
French backpacker Smail Ayad was ‘psychotic and under the influence of cannabis’ when he carried out the deadly attack.
Miss Ayliff-Chung, from Derbyshire, was pronounced dead at the scene while Mr Jackson, from Congleton, died of his injuries at Townsville Hospital six days later.
More than five years on from the horrific double murder, an investigation is ongoing into Mr Jackson’s death at Warrington Coroners Court.
The court heard today he suffered at least 12 separate injuries in the attack, but the medical cause of death was a stab wound to the brain.
An investigation has taken place into the death of Tom Jackson (pictured), who was stabbed at a boarding house in Queensland
Mia Ayliffe-Chung (pictured) was also stabbed to death in the August 2016 attack, Mr. Jackson rushed to her aid.
French backpacker Smail Ayad was ‘psychoactive and under the influence of marijuana’ when he carried out the deadly attack
The scene at the Home Hill motel, south of Townsville, where Ayliffe-Chung and Mr Jackson lost their lives in August 2016.
Assistant coroner Peter Sigee said the findings in the Queensland coroner’s report, 30 June 2020, should be ‘the only evidence to be received and reviewed’.
Compiling the evidence in the report, Mr Sigee added: ‘Various individuals involved in this incident have been staying in hostels while traveling on work visas and performing paid work. on a local farm.
‘Mr Smail Ayad carried out a frenzied knife attack on Miss Mia Ayliff-Chung, leaving her severely injured.
‘Miss Ayliff-Chung was able to escape and lock herself in the bathroom. Mr Ayad then jumped from the first-floor balcony as if he were flying, landing on his back.
“Mr. Jackson came to Mr. Ayad’s aid, not knowing what happened in the dormitory.”
The inquest heard another backpacker, Daniel Richards, found Miss Ayliff-Chung in the bathroom and shouted that she had been stabbed, at which point Mr Jackson ran inside.
The coroner continued: ‘Mr Ayad returned to the inn, still carrying a knife, shouting and gesturing.
‘Despite knowing that Mr Ayad had inflicted a serious knife wound on Miss Ayliff-Chung and that Mr Ayad was still in the inn, armed and dangerous, Mr Jackson did not attempt to escape to a safe place that remained with Miss Ayliff-Chung in an effort to care for her and prevent further harm to her. ‘
Tom Jackson after being awarded the Queen’s Medal of Gallantry on his 33rd birthday for his heroic deeds
Miss Ayliffe-Chung (pictured) traveled the world for almost a year before she arrived in Australia in 2016
Daniel Richards (pictured) comforted Miss Ayliffe-Chung in her final moments, despite the risk to his own safety. He also received a Queen’s Gallantry Medal
Ayad tried to enter the bathroom, where Mr. Jackson tried to calm him down, but then he was attacked and suffered multiple stab wounds.
The investigation said an Australian mental health court later determined Ayad was ‘out of mind’ at the time of the attack. Criminal proceedings have been discontinued.
Recording a narrative conclusion, Mr Sigee said: ‘Mr Jackson died of knife wounds sustained by a heartless person while Mr Jackson acted with great courage and valor to seek protection. and take care of a seriously injured person.’
Following today’s investigation, Mr. Jackson’s parents Leslie and Sandra paid their respects to their son.
They told CheshireLive: ‘We think about him all the time.’
Sandra added: ‘I would never get over it. You just have to learn to live with it. ‘
The parents said their son, a die-hard Liverpool fan, is an experienced traveler and has spent time in India, Malaysia and taught English in Cambodia for 18 months.
“Tom has equipped more in 30 years than a lot of people have done in their lifetime,” says Leslie.
Mr Jackson was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal on his 33rd birthday, as well as a similar award in Queensland, for his heroic efforts.
