Matthew James : Tunisia hero remains in hospital

Matthew James,Tunisia attack victim gives thumbs up in photo.

A Welshman shot three times while protecting his fiancee from the gunman during the Tunisian terror attack is in stable condition in hospital back home.

Mathew James, a father-of-two from Trehafod in Rhondda Cynon Taf, has been hailed as a hero after being shot in the shoulder, chest and hip after throwing himself in front of the gunman to protect his fiancee.

Matthew James : Tunisia hero remains in hospital

Fiancee Saera Wilson has posted the following message to a Facebook fundraising page:

“Just to say a massive thank you for everyone’s support and messages, and donations made to us.

“I am reading the messages and statuses out to Mat as they are coming in and he is overwhelmed by the response.

“Soon as he is able he will reply to people but is still recovering at the moment and I am typing for him. Much love to you all.

The family have released the following statement :

“Mathew is currently in a stable and comfortable condition – and he and his fiancée Saera are doing well, and are happy to be back in the UK.

“They wish to thank all of the medical teams in both Tunisia and the UK for all of their professional assistance, care and support. They would also like to thank everyone involved in ensuring their safe return to the UK and the support shown by family, friends and the public.

“They now request privacy in order to recover from the incident.”

Heroic Welsh dad Mathew James, who used himself as a human shield to protect his fiancee Saera Wilson from bullets during a gun attack on a beach in Tunisia is now recovering back in hospital in the UK, mum Kathryn Matthews has said.

30-year-old gas engineer Mathew James from Pontypridd has been hailed as a hero after he was shot three times, in the shoulder, chest and hip, using himself as a human shield to protect fiancée Saera Wilson from gunfire on a beach in the resort town of Sousse on Friday.

In a post on social media this morning, Kathryn said that it was the “most fantastic feeling” seeing Saera step off the plane while her son was carried on a stretcher behind her.

“He and Saera are now on home turf,” she wrote. “He’s in good spirits and is getting the very best of care.

“So proud of him, after being the first to be shot and making sure Saera got to safety, he held the hand of an elderly gent who lay dying next to him, totally overwhelmed by it all.”

Kathryn also told friends that Mathew is now looking forward to seeing his two children, Tegan, six, and Kaden, 14 months.

Thanking the well-wishers who have donated nearly £10,000 to a fund set up for Mathew, Kathryn said, “Everyone who has donated or just sent messages of support have done so much to help us through a very traumatic time.

“(You) deserve to have our appreciation for what you are all doing for him and his family, just knowing that so many of you care enough to help is all that i need to restore my faith that for all the bad in this world there is far more good.”

At least 15 of the 38 people killed during the attack near the Imperial Marhaba hotel in the tourist town of Sousse were British, the foreign office confirmed yesterday.

36 more, including Mathew, suffered injuries.

23-year-old Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire on tourists on the beach near the Imperial Marhaba and Bellevue hotels at around noon on Friday. He then moved on to at least one hotel, and detonated grenades.

Agencies/Canadajournal