Hero Brit stabbed in the FACE while trying to save backpacker killed in Australian hostel from brutal knife attack
Tom Jackson, from Congleton, Cheshire, heroically attempted to stop attack on Mia Ayliffe-Chung
A HERO Brit backpacker who tried to protect murder victim Mia Ayliffe-Chung when she was stabbed to death is fighting for life after he was knifed in the face.
Tom Jackson, from Congleton, in Cheshire tried desperately to save Mia, 21, from Belper, Derbyshire, who was stabbed to death in an Australian hostel by a man who went on a rampage and allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" - “God is Great” in Arabic as he attacked innocent bystanders.
Tom was critically injured as he tried to stop the horrific events unfolding in Townsville, Queensland.
Mr Jackson's sister, Olivia Jackson, 23, spoke from the family home and said: "We can't really comment too much at the minute.
"Tom hasn't been in a position to talk to us because he's still in a critical condition in hospital. We can't divulge too much else right now."
Samantha Harrison, who is a friend of Tom's, wrote on Facebook: "To think I've actually stayed at this hostel and may even of spoken to the vile man that did this makes me feel sick.
"Tom Jackson was a very close friend and one of the most amazing people I have ever met."
Mia had been working in Queensland for the last six months as a waitress.
She had headed off on her trip a year ago, and started her journey in Indonesia.
It was only five weeks ago she posted on social media she was "living my dream."
However she still missed her family and friends saying: "The hardest thing living my dream, missing the important home things. Graduations, people in hospital, funerals and birthdays."
It looked like she had started working on a farm near Townsville, Queensland so she could extend her Visa. It is thought she was staying at Home Hill hostel, where the attack took place at around 11.15pm local time on Tuesday.
Brit Scott Ackland, 22, was also injured in the attack along with Australian Grant Scholz who was stabbed in the leg.
Ackland and Sam Gostelow were travelling with Mia, and another friend Chris Porter, who was also injured, gave a tribute to Mirror online saying: "Mia was a fun, energetic and bubbly person.
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"She was great to work with, loved by everyone and will be dearly missed by the surfers paradise hospitality community. This has sent shockwaves through the hospitality family.
"It is under such terrible circumstances that this has happened to such an amazing person. Our condolences go out to all of her family and friends.
"We are also thankful Chris Porter our other co worker was able to escape with minimal injuries and our thoughts are with the other man fighting for his life."
Amy Browne, who worked with Mia as a bartender, from the Gold Coast, also paid tribute saying: "Mia was honestly the most bubbliest and most caring girl I knew."
And Monique Cross, an Australian friend said: "She was a gorgeous person. It's an awful tragedy - I can't believe it."
Amy Browne, 19, from the Gold Coast, who worked as a bartender with Mia, said: "Mia was honestly the most bubbliest and most caring girl I knew.
Australian news station ABC revealed a neighbour had heard "blood-curdling screams" at the time of the attack: "I’ll never forget the screaming — I’ve never heard that before in my life. It’s terrible."
Australian Federal Police are now investigating if the attacker has any link to any terror organisations.
The attack was branded a "senseless act of violence" in which a 46-year-old local man also suffered non life-threatening injuries.
A French national, 29, has been arrested.
Deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said cops were considered motivations including criminal and political, and the impact of drugs and mental health problems were also being looked at.
Speaking at a press conference he said: "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender.
"It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' during the attack and when arrested by police."