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Chris Porter, 21, from High Halstow pays tribute to Mia Ayliffe-Chung who died in an attack in Australia

00:01, 29 August 2016

updated: 12:41, 29 August 2016

The Medway backpacker who was injured when he was caught up in an attack which saw his friend stabbed to death has paid tribute to his friend.

Chris Porter, from High Halstow, leapt from the window of the Australian hostel during the frenzied attack and broke his ankles.

He left hospital a couple of days ago and is now staying on the Gold Coast.

Mr Porter posted this picture of him and Miss Ayliffe-Chung
Mr Porter posted this picture of him and Miss Ayliffe-Chung

Mr Porter had worked as a chef at the village’s Red Dog pub before setting off on his travels earlier this year.

His friend Mia Ayliffe-Chung died in the attack at Shelly’s Backpackers hostel in Home Hill, Queensland, last Tuesday.

According to reports in Australian paper, The Courier Mail, Mr Porter was lying in a bunk bed in the same room as Mia when she was stabbed.

Three more people in the room were attacked, including another British man Tom Jackson who was seriously injured.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21
Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21

Mr Porter, posted to his Facebook page from the Gold Coast, Queensland and included a picture of the pair together.

They had recently gone to work on a farm in Home Hill and according to his post, Miss Ayliffe-Chung, kept his morale going and said her smile would light up the whole room.

Mr Porter, 21, posted: "Where do I even start with this beautiful person.

"I met Mia a few months back through friends and knew instantly she was something special..

"She had a smile that would light up the whole room.

"We decided to go farming a month ago to extend the Australian dream for another year.

"On the 15th of August we left for our what we called 'prison sentence'.

"I just want everyone to know that them seven days we had in home hill was amazing.

"Mia adapted to it very quickly and was constantly reassuring me we could do it as I doubted it a few times.

"She taught me tricks of living in a hostel as it was only the second one I've been in.

"She seemed to love the lifestyle! I can tell you all now I didn't once here her moan and it honestly seemed she was just loving it.

"And was just looking forward to coming back to the coast for her birthday.

"I sometimes think she just didn't show her negative feelings towards it just to keep my morale up.

"She is that type of person putting everyone in front of her! I'm going to miss you so much Mia .. My short time knowing you will last a lifetime. RIP Angel."

Chris Porter, 21
Chris Porter, 21

About 30 horrified people witnessed the attack and Mr Porter, 21, was forced to jump from the second floor to save his own life.

His foster mother Kim Porter, who lives in High Halstow, said he had been lucky and that she didn’t know if he would come straight back to England or stay in Australia for a while and confirmed Miss Ayliffe-Chung was not his girlfriend and the pair were friends.”

Mr Porter had lived in High Halstow for about six years and went to school in Meopham.

He had set off on his travels in January and had been living in Surfers Paradise in Queensland for months.

"He had wanted to stay an extra year in the country, so got the job on the farm to help pay for his stay.

Ms Porter added: “He’s been lucky and was not stabbed and has injured his foot.

“He’s OK, just a bit fragile at the moment. We all are.”

Mr Porter suffered leg injuries
Mr Porter suffered leg injuries

Before setting of on his backpacking adventure, Mr Porter was employed at The Red Dog pub in the village as the chef.

His former colleagues were shocked by the news he had been injured.

Parish councillor Bill Khatkar, who runs the pub with his partner Gary Eastwood, said:

“Chris worked here for about three and a half years and we threw him a big party when he left to go travelling.

“He is a good lad, a lovely guy and would help anyone out. I even said to him if it didn’t work out on his travels he could come back here to the pub and have his job back.

“We hope he is safe and gets better soon.”

Miss Ayliffe-Chung, 21, came from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, and had been travelling for about a year.

Queensland Police confirmed that Smail Ayad, 29, has been charged with her murder as well as two counts of attempted murder, 12 of serious assault and one count of serious animal cruelty.

He appeared before Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday by video link, where he was remanded in custody.

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