Briton who tried to save backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung from knife attack dies of injuries in Australia
Tom Jackson's father says he is 'immensely proud' of his son's actions
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Your support makes all the difference.A British man who tried to save another backpacker from a knife attack has died from his injuries in Australia.
Tom Jackson came to the aid of fellow Briton Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, who was stabbed to death at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill, south of Townsville.
The 30-year-old suffered multiple stab wounds to his head and leg, and passed away as result of the injuries in Townsville Hospital, ABC reported.
Mr Jackson's father, Les, said the world was a poorer place now that his son had passed away but that he was “immensely proud” of him for his bravery.
"There are many and varied reasons why we are, and always will be, immensely proud of Tom," the BBC reported Mr Jackson’s father as saying.
"His actions in response to this horrific attack only add to that sense of pride."
A spokesman for Queensland Police said investigations were continuing but French national Smail Ayad, 29, has been charged with murder.
The murder has led to calls for a ban on Muslim immigration, which have been condemned and branded "opportunistic" by politicians.
The mother of British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung has criticised coverage of her daughter's death, saying attempts to link it to Islam were "nonsense".
"The Frenchman being held on suspicion of my daughter's murder is not an Islamic fundamentalist – he has never set foot in a mosque," she told The Independent.
"Forgiveness and reparation are absolutely key, or violence escalates into something uncontrollable. And the person who killed Mia now has to live with the fact that they destroyed my daughter.
"If they feel no remorse, then surely they're a monster in human form, and what kind of life is that?"
Ayad is alleged to have murdered Ms Ayliffe-Chung, to have caused the injuries which led to Mr Jackson's death and also harmed 12 police officers. He is set to next appear in court on October 28.
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