Tunisia shooting: Father of two used his body as human shield to protect fiancee
A British tourist was shot three times after he used his own body as a human shield to protect his fiancee from the gunman who attacked a resort in Tunisia on Friday (June 26).
He is now in intensive care.
According to The Daily Express, Mr Matthew James, 30, and Ms Saera Wilson, 26, were lounging on sun beds at the beach when the gunman opened fire into the crowd.
Mr James selflessly protected his fiancee by using his own body as a human shield.
Ms Wilson said:
"He took a bullet for me. I owe him my life because he threw himself in front of me when the shooting started."
He was shot three times before he told Ms Wilson to save herself, look after their children and that he loved her.
The engaged couple have two children, aged six years and 14 months. The children were left at home with the couple's family while the couple flew to Tunisia for a two week holiday, reported Mail Online.
Alive
Ms Wilson said she ran from the beach into their hotel and hid in the towel cupboard as the shooting continued outside.
When it eventually quietened down, she came out of the towel cupboard only to be greeted by a scene of confusion and devastation.
She was desperate to find out what had happened to her fiance but was unable to get any information until two hours later,when someone passed her a phone.
On the other end of the line was the injured Mr James, who had just undergone an operation.
"His pelvis was shattered by the bullet and he also had a heart attack," said Ms Wilson
"But he is alive. I'm just praying we can get out of here as soon as we can."
The couple are due to marry in 2017.
AFP reported that Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack which has killed 38 people, mainly British tourists.
Tunisian Secretary of State for Security Rafik Chelly told Mosaique FM the gunman was a Tunisian student previously unknown to authorities.
“He entered by the beach, dressed like someone who was going to swim, and he had a beach umbrella with his gun in it. Then when he came to the beach he used his weapon,” Chelly said.
Source: AFP, Mail Online, The Daily Express
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