Grant Scholz is one of three people who will today be recognised for the role they played in trying to save 20-year-old Mia Ayliffe-Chung from a mentally ill man who went on a rampage at Shelly’s Backpackers in Home Hill, 100km southeast of Townsville.Ms Ayliffe-Chung had been staying at the hostel when she was stabbed to death by French backpacker Smail Ayad on August 23, 2016.British backpacker Tom Jackson was also killed when he came to her aid.Coroner Nerida Wilson, in non-inquest findings released last year, found a “psychotic” Ayad killed Ms Ayliffe-Chung after becoming infatuated with her.Today, Mr Jackson will be posthumously awarded the Star of Courage – one of only two people in Australia to receive the honour as part of this year’s Australian Bravery Decorations.Another British backpacker, Daniel Richards, will be awarded a bravery medal, while Mr Scholz will be given a commendation for brave conduct.Mr Scholz told The Courier-Mail he still suffers from nightmares after witnessing Ayad’s attack on Ms Ayliffe-Chung.Ms Ayliffe-Chung was attacked on the balcony of the hostel, with CCTV showing Ayad dragging her out of her room, a knife to her throat.“I just ran and charged him,” Mr Scholz said.“He must have been stabbing her. I thought he was punching her (but) his back was to me.“I just ran and tried to push him out of the way. I pushed him down and that’s when he stabbed me in the leg.”Ms Ayliffe-Chung, who had been stabbed multiple times, fled to a bathroom as Mr Richards screamed for help.Mr Richards followed Ms Ayliffe-Chung into the bathroom where he tried to put pressure on her wounds. Mr Jackson ran in after him and they both tried to stop the bleeding.Shortly after, Ayad kicked in the bathroom door and grappled with Mr Jackson before stabbing him in the head.Mr Scholz said Mr Jackson suffered a terrible fate while trying to save Ms Ayliffe-Chung’s life.“He put his life on the line for her and lost it, what more can you say?” he said.“It’s (the bravery awards) a bit of recognition but Tom is not with us anymore.“I try not to think about the whole incident quite honestly.”Last year, Coroner Wilson acknowledged the “extraordinary bravery and compassion” of those who tried to help Ms Ayliffe-Chung while a “psychotic individual” remained on the loose.“All persons present during these events were exposed to what can only be described as a horrifying and frenzied attack on two young people,” she said in her non-inquest findings.“Both (Mr Jackson) and (Mr Richards) exhibited extraordinary bravery and compassion remaining with Mia rendering assistance whilst their own safety was still at risk.”111 PEOPLE RECOGNISED IN 2021 AUSTRALIAN BRAVERY DECORATIONS LIST FROM daring sea and fire rescues, to frightening encounters with armed assailants, the 2021 Australian Bravery Decorations List has recognised 111 people who responded to the worst of circumstances in the most courageous of ways.A total of 16 people were honoured on this year’s list for the dramatic night-time attempted rescue of a racing yacht in a ferocious storm off Port Stephens in 2016. Michael Smith from Bli Bli was one of them.The Marine Rescue volunteer, now 78, was first officer and engineer on the rescue boat during the operation, which turned perilous when the boat tipped over in heavy seas and one of its two engines failed. “I was on the top deck manning a searchlight, and I felt this surge coming from our starboard side,” Mr Smith said. “I grabbed hold of whatever I could and over she went. One guy on the yacht said he looked back and all he could see was the propellers of the boat. I was on the top deck hanging on for dear life with this searchlight.” Although Mr Smith was involved in other tricky operations during his 15 years of active service with Marine Rescue, he said the conditions during the 2016 Port Stephens rescue were the most severe he had ever encountered. The Bravery List recognition was “absolutely fabulous recognition for the work that Marine Rescue do as volunteers. And mostly an older group of people,” Mr Smith said. Most of the crew of the rescue boat had been in their 60s at the time of the operation, he said.– David MilesDownload the Courier Mail app



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