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| Tunisia attack: Shot Pontypridd man in Sousse was 'human shield' | Tunisia attack: Shot Pontypridd man in Sousse was 'human shield' |
| (4 days later) | |
| A Welsh tourist was shot three times during a terrorist attack on a Tunisian beach, using his body as a human shield, his fiancee has said. | A Welsh tourist was shot three times during a terrorist attack on a Tunisian beach, using his body as a human shield, his fiancee has said. |
| Saera Wilson said gas engineer Mathew James, 30, from Trehafod, near Pontypridd, was trying to protect her when the gunmen opened fire. | |
| Ms Wilson, 26, said Mr James was hit in the shoulder, chest and hip. | Ms Wilson, 26, said Mr James was hit in the shoulder, chest and hip. |
| At least 37 people, including five Britons, have been killed in the attack in the town of Sousse. | At least 37 people, including five Britons, have been killed in the attack in the town of Sousse. |
| Speaking from the hospital where Mr James, known as Sas, is being treated, 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. | Speaking from the hospital where Mr James, known as Sas, is being treated, 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 covered in blood from the shots, but he just told me to run away. | "He was covered in blood from the shots, but he just told me to run away. |
| 'Daddy loves them' | 'Daddy loves them' |
| "He told me: 'I love you babe. But just go - tell our children that their daddy loves them'. | "He told me: 'I love you babe. But just go - tell our children that their daddy loves them'. |
| "It was the bravest thing I've ever known. But I just had to leave him under the sunbed because the shooting just kept on coming. | "It was the bravest thing I've ever known. But I just had to leave him under the sunbed because the shooting just kept on coming. |
| "I ran back, past bodies on the beach to reach our hotel. It was chaos - there was a body in the hotel pool and it was just full of blood. | "I ran back, past bodies on the beach to reach our hotel. It was chaos - there was a body in the hotel pool and it was just full of blood. |
| "You just can't explain how terrible it was. It was chaos with screaming and gunshots. I'm just so glad Mathew is alive because so many other people are dead." | |
| She said they had left their two children, Tegan, six, and Kaden, 14 months, at home with their family when they jetted out to Sousse on 21 June for a two week break. | She said they had left their two children, Tegan, six, and Kaden, 14 months, at home with their family when they jetted out to Sousse on 21 June for a two week break. |
| When she got back to their hotel, she said, she hid in a cupboard to stay safe until it became quieter. | When she got back to their hotel, she said, she hid in a cupboard to stay safe until it became quieter. |
| Ms Wilson said she kept speaking to people until she found out he was at the hospital. | Ms Wilson said she kept speaking to people until she found out he was at the hospital. |
| "I've been to the hospital intensive care and I'm just staying here on a chair now. His pelvis was shattered by the bullet and he also had a heart attack. | "I've been to the hospital intensive care and I'm just staying here on a chair now. His pelvis was shattered by the bullet and he also had a heart attack. |
| "But he is alive. I'm just praying we can get out of here as soon as we can." | "But he is alive. I'm just praying we can get out of here as soon as we can." |
| Several other tourists from Wales have also been caught up in the attacks. | Several other tourists from Wales have also been caught up in the attacks. |
| 'Run for your life' | 'Run for your life' |
| Amanda Roberts, from Swansea, is staying in the Royal Kenz hotel with her family, which is next door to the affected Imperial Marhaba Hotel in the Port El Kantaoui district. | Amanda Roberts, from Swansea, is staying in the Royal Kenz hotel with her family, which is next door to the affected Imperial Marhaba Hotel in the Port El Kantaoui district. |
| They were on the beach when the attack took place and she told the BBC: "Someone said 'run for your life'." | They were on the beach when the attack took place and she told the BBC: "Someone said 'run for your life'." |
| "We just concentrated on getting back to our hotel safely," she added. | "We just concentrated on getting back to our hotel safely," she added. |
| "We originally heard a muffled sound and saw police on horseback. Scuffles took place, people jumping over walls and there was a sound of gun fire." | "We originally heard a muffled sound and saw police on horseback. Scuffles took place, people jumping over walls and there was a sound of gun fire." |
| She said they left everything, grabbed onto each other and "ran for our lives, there were literally hundreds of people in the same position". | She said they left everything, grabbed onto each other and "ran for our lives, there were literally hundreds of people in the same position". |
| "We are now in our hotel room but no-one from Thomson [the family's holiday company] has been in touch to give us any information. | "We are now in our hotel room but no-one from Thomson [the family's holiday company] has been in touch to give us any information. |
| "Also, my family has sustained injuries to our feet. Luckily we were able to receive treatment from a doctor." | "Also, my family has sustained injuries to our feet. Luckily we were able to receive treatment from a doctor." |
| 'We're alive' | 'We're alive' |
| She said her own feet were so severely burnt from running on hot concrete to the hotel she was unable to stand, which made her feel more vulnerable. | She said her own feet were so severely burnt from running on hot concrete to the hotel she was unable to stand, which made her feel more vulnerable. |
| "We're feeling very shaken but at least we're still alive," she said. | "We're feeling very shaken but at least we're still alive," she said. |
| Chris Spiteri, 29, from Cardiff, said he was deeply worried about his 25-year-old cousin Lena Tanti, also from Cardiff, who is currently in Tunisia. | Chris Spiteri, 29, from Cardiff, said he was deeply worried about his 25-year-old cousin Lena Tanti, also from Cardiff, who is currently in Tunisia. |
| "She's on holiday with her friend and I've tried calling her but her phone is dead," he said. "I've Whatsapped her but I haven't heard back. | "She's on holiday with her friend and I've tried calling her but her phone is dead," he said. "I've Whatsapped her but I haven't heard back. |
| "I don't know what hotel or anything she's staying in but I'm really worried and I just want to know she's ok." | "I don't know what hotel or anything she's staying in but I'm really worried and I just want to know she's ok." |
| Kelsie Collins, from Pontypridd, is also on holiday in Sousse with her family and has described scenes of confusion and fear. | Kelsie Collins, from Pontypridd, is also on holiday in Sousse with her family and has described scenes of confusion and fear. |
| The 24-year-old, who is staying at the Sahara Beach Resort near the seafront, said her family had been told to stay in their hotel room. | The 24-year-old, who is staying at the Sahara Beach Resort near the seafront, said her family had been told to stay in their hotel room. |
| "There's mostly Brits here in the hotel, but nobody is really saying anything to each other, everyone's confused and in shock", she said. | "There's mostly Brits here in the hotel, but nobody is really saying anything to each other, everyone's confused and in shock", she said. |
| Her grandmother, Mavis Collins, spoke of her relief at hearing the family is safe. | Her grandmother, Mavis Collins, spoke of her relief at hearing the family is safe. |
| Stacey Webb, 23, from Barry, said she was locked in a bathroom with seven others following the shooting. | Stacey Webb, 23, from Barry, said she was locked in a bathroom with seven others following the shooting. |
| "I have never been more scared in my life but I hope God is with me", she said. | "I have never been more scared in my life but I hope God is with me", she said. |
| Tunisia has been on high alert since March when militants killed 22 people, mainly foreign tourists, in an attack on a museum in the capital Tunis. | Tunisia has been on high alert since March when militants killed 22 people, mainly foreign tourists, in an attack on a museum in the capital Tunis. |
| A suicide bomber blew himself up in a failed attack on the beach in Sousse in October 2013. | A suicide bomber blew himself up in a failed attack on the beach in Sousse in October 2013. |
| A spokeswoman for Thomson and First Choice said: "We are working closely with our teams in Tunisia and the relevant authorities to determine exactly what has happened and provide assistance to those affected." | A spokeswoman for Thomson and First Choice said: "We are working closely with our teams in Tunisia and the relevant authorities to determine exactly what has happened and provide assistance to those affected." |
| The UK Foreign Office said it is investigating whether any of the dead are British. | The UK Foreign Office said it is investigating whether any of the dead are British. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said he offered "our solidarity in fighting this evil of terrorism". | Prime Minister David Cameron said he offered "our solidarity in fighting this evil of terrorism". |
| Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones tweeted: "Horrific news coming out of Tunisia and France - my thoughts are with everyone affected." | Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones tweeted: "Horrific news coming out of Tunisia and France - my thoughts are with everyone affected." |
| Are you in Sousse or do you know of any Welsh tourists out there? Cal: 02920 322 236 or email: newsonline.wales@bbc.co.uk | Are you in Sousse or do you know of any Welsh tourists out there? Cal: 02920 322 236 or email: newsonline.wales@bbc.co.uk |