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| British backpacker Tom Jackson, 30, who died in Townsville hospital on Tuesday. |
A British man who clung to life for a week after being gravely wounded in a stabbing spree in an Australian backpackers hostel has died in hospital.
Thomas Jackson, 30, who was allegedly stabbed in the eye, face and torso after coming to the aid of dying compatriot Mia Ayliffe-Chung in Home Hill, north Queensland, died on Tuesday in Townsville, police confirmed.
His father, Les Jackson, said the family was bereft.
“Our darling Tom has left us and the world is a poorer place. Thanks again to everyone for the love and support you have given us over the last few days, we will be forever grateful,” he said.
“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.”
Smail Ayad, 29, will now face a second count of murder after he was charged over the death of Ayliffe-Chung last Friday.
“Detectives will upgrade a charge of attempted murder against a 29-year-old man at his next appearance in Townsville magistrates court on October 28,” police said in a statement.
Jackson, a freelance journalist, had been on life support since the alleged attack. His father travelled from the UK to be by his bedside.
Superintendent Ray Rohweder on Friday praised Jackson’s “selfless” courage during the tragedy.
“There is no doubt Mr Jackson attempted to render aid to Mia,” he said.
“His subsequent actions were absolutely fantastic and I have no doubt that his actions on that day, as selfless, completely selfless as they were, led to the injuries that he now has.”
Police allege Jackson was set upon by a knife-wielding Ayad in the bathroom of Shelley’s Backpackers where he and another man were tending to the fatally wounded Ayliffe-Chung.
Les Jackson released a statement on Sunday saying he was “immensely proud” of his son for “many and varied” reasons.
“His actions in response to this horrific attack only add to that sense of pride,” he said.
Ayad is also accused of killing a dog and injuring a dozen police after his arrest following the attack at the hostel in Home Hill, 100km south of Townsville.
On Friday Ayad appeared by videolink in Townsville magistrates court, where his case was adjourned .
Before coming to Australia, Jackson had worked for 18 months as a freelance journalist, in 2014 taking an internship at an English language newspaper in Cambodia where he earlier taught English.
“To say that I’ve had a lifelong ambition to be a journalist would be at best an understatement,” the South Cheshire college graduate wrote on a LinkedIn profile.
guardian
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