Tunisia beach attack hero is to receive a bravery award
A holidaymaker who acted as a human shield to save his fiancee during the Tunisia beach terror attack is to receive an award.
Mathew James, 30, from Pontypridd, will be awarded a silver Life Saving Medal for his ‘conspicuous act of gallantry’.
He will receive the medal at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff, in June.
Mr James was shot three times – in the shoulder, chest and hip – while protecting his partner Saera Wilson during the horrific shooting last June at Port El Kantaoui north of Sousse.
Keith Dunn OBE, chief executive for St John Cymru-Wales, said: “This is an extremely rare and prestigious award. Mathew has shown presence of mind and control under great pressure.
“The recognition is richly deserved and his actions went above and beyond what anyone would have expected.”
The attack killed 30 Britons, all customers of Thomson or First Choice.
During a pre-inquest hearing earlier this month, a representative of 16 of the families said civil claims were ‘likely’ to be lodged in future.
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The court was told that the families were concerned the victims had not be warned of the likelihood of a terrorist attack in Tunisia.
They have asked that the coroner, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, calls for holidaymakers to be warned of the risk of terrorism in destinations around the world in future.
Measures could include a ‘traffic light system’ in holiday brochures.
Representatives for Thomson told the court the company disputed the allegations.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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