Mathew James
Nominated for Bravery award
Mathew James from Pontypridd is nominated for his selflessness during a time of real fear and chaos, in using his body to shield his partner, Saera Wilson, from bullets during the Tunisia terror attacks.
On 24 June 2015, an armed gunman made his way across a busy beach resort in Tunisia, killing tourists as they lay sunbathing.
Mathew James and Saera Wilson were on the beach as the attack began. Without thought for his own life, Mathew threw his body over Saera to protect her from the bullets. Mathew was hit in the chest, hip and pelvis but survived. Without Mathew’s courage, Saera may well have been killed.
Mathew and Saera returned to Pontypridd, where their 2 children waited for them.