Traveller stabbed to death while trying to save woman in Australian hostel

A heroic backpacker died after he was stabbed several times in the head trying to save a woman in an Australian hostel. Thomas Leslie Jackson, from Cheshire, tried to intervene as fellow Brit Mia Ayliff-Chung was knifed at the hostel in Home Hill, Queensland.

An inquest into his death on on August 23, 2016, was held today (Tuesday). Warrington Coroner's Court heard how French backpacker Smail Ayad carried out the attack on both Thomas, 30, and Miss Ayliff-Chung, 20.

According to Cheshire Live, a coroner's report in Queensland stated that Mr Ayad was at the time 'psychotic and under the influence of cannabis'. As a result criminal proceedings were discontinued.

Miss Ayliff-Chung, from Derbyshire, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Jackson, from Congleton, died from his severe injuries in Townsville Hospital six days later. The former South Cheshire Collage student's medical cause of death was stab wounds to the brain.

The inquest heard that he sustained at least 12 separate injuries in the attack. Assistant coroner Peter Sigee said it was "appropriate" that the findings of the Queensland coroner's report, dated June 30, 2020, should be the "only evidence to receive and consider".

Summing up the evidence in the report, which he had "carefully considered" in advance of the hearing, Mr Sigee said: "The various individuals involved in this incident were staying in the hostel whilst travelling on a working visa and undertaking paid work at a local farm. Mr Smail Ayad carried out a frenzied knife attack upon Miss Mia Ayliff-Chung, inflicting severe injuries upon her.

"Miss Ayliff-Chung was able to escape and to lock herself into a bathroom. Mr Ayad then jumped from a first floor balcony as if trying to fly, landing on his