A HEROIC British backpacker wounded trying to save the life of a young woman in a hostel stabbing frenzy in Australia has died in hospital.
Tom Jackson, 30, suffered more than 20 stab wounds to the face, head and torso as he tried to shield Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from a vicious attack from "obsessed" Smail Ayad.
French national Ayad, 29, has been charged with Mia’s murder and the attempted murders of Tom and another man at Shelley’s Backpackers, in Home Hill, Queensland.
He will now face a second murder charge when he appears in court in October.
Witnesses said Tom, of Congleton, Cheshire, attempted to shield Mia from the frenzied attack only to be stabbed himself in the hostel bathroom.
Mia died at the scene of multiple stab wounds.
Tom had been on life support for six days since being rushed to hospital in nearby Townsville in the early hours of Wednesday.
His father Les, who flew out from the UK to hold vigil by his son’s bedside, said he was "bereft" after Tom died today.
Les wrote on a fundraising page: "We are 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.
"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."
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He said: “His actions in response to this horrific attack only add to that sense of pride.
“As a family we have been comforted by the help and support offered by our friends and family at home and in Australia who have been wonderful.
“As Tom’s dad here in Townsville that comfort and many offers of support and friendship has been given by the Townsville community.
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“We are in awe of the medical and support staff at The Townsville Hospital who are providing the greatest care Tom could hope to receive and keeping me informed of his ongoing treatment every step of the way.
“Finally, and most importantly, our hearts go out to Mia and her family and friends at this dreadful time.”
Mia's mother Rosie Ayliffe said today her daughter's life would be celebrated at a multi-faith ceremony after she was cremated and her ashes spread across different parts of the globe so the young traveller could “visit places she never got to visit”.
Investigators initially thought the stabbing attack, which hostel owner John Norris said lasted hours, could be motivated by extremism.
Ayad was heard repeatedly yelling “Allahu Akbar” – God is the greatest – during the stabbing frenzy and again when police came to arrest him.
However, in the intervening days police all but ruled out Islamic radicalism as the motive.
The 29-year-old is said to have become infatuated with Mia in the short time he had known her but she rejected his advances.
Witnesses reported Ayad had smoked cannabis on the night of the alleged stabbing frenzy, but drug testing to determine if he had consumed any other illicit drugs is still yet to be concluded.
Ayad is now expected to face two murder charges. He also faces a charge of animal cruelty stemming from allegations he chased down and slaughtered a pet German Shepherd dog that belonged to the hostel owners after attacking Ms Ayliffe-Chung.
He also faces 12 assault charges, all stemming from his time in custody, where he is alleged to have punched, kicked and bitten police officers, who were forced to try to subdue him with pepper spray and a taser.
Police deemed him too dangerous to appear in court to face the charges at his first hearing last week, and television crews captured him being transferred from the Townsville watch house wearing a spit hood.
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