The “indescribably proud” relatives of British backpacker Thomas Jackson have paid tribute to a “wonderful big brother” and a “darling” son after his death in an Australian hospital.
The 30-year-old was fatally stabbed trying to save fellow Briton Mia Ayliffe-Chung in the attack at a backpackers hostel in north Queensland last Tuesday.
Jackson’s sister, Liv, said she was heartbroken as she paid tribute to her brother on Facebook.
She wrote: “There is nothing in this world that can prepare you for the pain and heartbreak of losing a sibling and a friend, but there is great comfort in knowing that he was mine.
“To everyone back home and to everyone here in Australia, there are literally not enough words to thank you for your support and beautifully kind words to my family at this time.”
She urged people not to remember him as a victim but as a friend and to cherish his memory, adding: “Indescribably proud of everything you accomplished and the lives you touched. I will love you always and forever TJ, your little sister, Lou.”
Tom Jackson, from Congleton in Cheshire, died from multiple stab injuries in a hospital in Townsville, in north-east Queensland, on Tuesday.
A French national, Smail Ayad, 29, now faces a second count of murder after he was charged over the death of Ayliffe-Chung last Friday.
Ayad is also accused of killing a dog and injuring a dozen police officers after his arrest following the attack at the hostel in Home Hill, which is about 60 miles (100km) south of Townsville.
Jackson, a freelance journalist, had been on life support since the attack. His father, Les Jackson, had flown from the UK to be by his son’s bedside.
In a tribute posted on a fundraising page on Tuesday, he wrote: “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.”
DSI Ray Rohweder of Queensland police earlier praised Jackson’s “selfless” courage during the attack.
The fundraising page, set up by Jackson’s friend Shoshana Palatnik, has raised more than £5,000 of its £10,000 target. After his death was confirmed, the page said all funds would go to his parents.
Rachel Edwards, a college friend, said the 30-year-old would “light people’s lives up with his kind words and inspiration, always pointing out the best in you and trying to make you see that”.
Edwards, from Crewe in Cheshire, told the Press Association: “He had a genuine care for everyone he met and always had a smile on his face, even when he didn’t feel like it inside.
“I loved him so much, there will literally never be another one like him and I’m so glad we got to tell each other how much our friendship meant to one another before he went on his travels on one of our moments.”
Jackson studied sports science at South Cheshire College until 2005. He had worked for 18 months as a freelance journalist before travelling to Australia. In 2014 he took an internship at an English language newspaper in Cambodia where he earlier taught English.
On his LinedIn profile page he wrote: “To say that I’ve had a lifelong ambition to be a journalist would be at best an understatement.”
The principal of South Cheshire College, Jasbir Dhesi, said on Tuesday: “This is very sad news following Thomas’s heroic intervention where he was trying to protect somebody else.
“Our hearts go out to Thomas’s family and friends following this tragic incident.”
