A mother whose son, brother and father were all murdered in the Tunisian beach massacre today described the moment she was told by her surviving child: ‘They’re all dead’.
Suzanne Evans received a phone call from her ‘screaming’ son Owen, 16, who narrowly survived the murderous rampage with a bullet wound to the shoulder.
His brother Joel Richards, 19, uncle Adrian Evans, 44, and grandfather Charles ‘Patrick’ Evans, 78, all died the first day of a holiday to celebrate Owen passing his GCSEs.
Fanatic Seifeddine Rezgui, 23, carried out the attack at the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel with an assault rifle and explosives because it was an ‘easy target’ made easier because ‘cowardly’ police delayed arrival.
Upsetting: Suzanne Evans today described the moment she received a phone call from her ‘screaming’ son Owen, 16, who revealed their family was wiped out in the Tunisian terror attack
Three generations: Joel Richards (centre), 19, a student at the University of Worcester, his uncle Adrian Evans, a manager at Sandwell Council in the West Midlands and his grandfather Charles ‘Patrick’ Evans (left), 78 who were among the 30 Britons killed in the Tunisian beach massacre
Terrorist: Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire in Sousse on June 26 2015, shooting 38 people dead including 30 Britons on a two-mile route
Ms Evans was at home in the West Midlands when her son Owen called in the aftermath of their murders
She told ITV’s This Morning: ‘I hadn’t seen the news and was sitting at home and got a call from an unknown number on my phone. I picked up and Owen was screaming down the phone, telling me that they were all dead’.
The phone then went dead and she got more calls from friends and the shell-shocked mother said to herself ‘this is real’.
Ms Evans then took an emergency flight to Tunisia to see her son and was told the bodies of her family members had to stay abroad.
She said: ‘We weren’t allowed to bring them home which was really hard. All we had was the suitcases’.
Owen Richards, now 18, was with his mother today as he described what happened.
He said: ‘It was me, my uncle, my brother and my granddad on the holiday. The day after I got back was due to be my prom.
‘I was relaxing, chilling in the sun. The first thing I noticed was the noise – but you wouldn’t recognise it straight away.
‘I thought it was firecrackers. You don’t imagine it will be gunfire. But when people start to run you think, what’s happening here?’
His elder brother Joel, 19, uncle Adrian Evans, 49, and grandfather Charles Evans, 78, were mercilessly cut down.
With a bravery beyond his years, Owen, then aged 16, had desperately tried to help his grandfather escape the slaughter. But Mr Evans kept falling, telling his grandson: ‘He’s got me’.
Owen suffered a wound to his shoulder in the hail of bullets. He later told British police that his brother Joel screamed ‘No’ three times before being blasted at close range.
After he called his mother to say they were ‘all dead’ he was taken to hospital.
He said: ‘The worst thing then was when I got to the hospital they just put me in a room and left me there on my own. I didn’t know what to do’.
Families of the Tunisia terrorism victims vowed to sue travel giant Tui and Ms Evans says ‘Customer safety did not seem to be a priority.’
She said today: ‘My dad and my brother were the most careful people. If they’d been given the advice that Tunisia wasn’t safe when they booked the holiday, they’d never have gone.
‘We hope there’s going to be a report on the prevention of deaths. The inquest isn’t going to change things, but a civil suit may.
‘Tour operators have to take responsibility for security, not just health and safety.’
Last night as it emerged that the firm spied on a grieving husband’s Facebook page in an attempt to dodge the blame.
Relatives have launched a multi-million-pound compensation bid against the tour operator for failing to ensure the safety of their loved ones and not informing them of terrorism risks in the North African country.
Tui, the parent company of travel agent Thomson, was accused of burying Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice warning that further attacks were possible following a fatal shooting at a museum three months earlier.
Bereft: Owen Richards and mother Suzanne Evans, pictured yesterday at the High Court where the six-week inquest came to an end
As the six-week inquest ended into the 30 British victims of the massacre by an Islamic State gunman in the beach resort of Sousse in June 2015, it can be revealed that:
- It had the fewest CCTV cameras of all nearby hotels and had just three security guards on duty on the day of the attack – one of whom was really the man who supplied the cushions on the beach;
- The coroner attacked the ‘shambolic’ and ‘cowardly’ police response, saying officers ‘deliberately’ took too long to reach the scene;
- All three ‘guards’ ran away.
In an astonishing move, lawyers for Tui snooped on social media to disprove one victim’s testimony that he did not know about the FCO advice.
James Windass, 66, whose wife Claire, 54, was shot dead next to him on his 65th birthday, said he would never have booked the holiday if the company had warned him of the dangers of terrorism.
Bereft: Ms Evanstook an emergency flight to Tunisia to see her son and was told the bodies of her family members had to stay abroad
He told the inquest he did not see any links to the FCO advice on the Thomson website, adding: ‘If it had been put to me that there was a possible terrorist situation I would not have gone. End of story.’
But lawyers from Tui trawled through his Facebook account and dredged up a post from 2012 in an attempt to discredit his evidence.
Howard Stevens QC, for the travel firm, tried to suggest that Mr Windass must have known about the FCO website because he was a member of a Facebook group called ‘Cycle 66′ in which it was mentioned. It was a page set up to celebrate Mr Windass’ 2,500-mile cycle along Route 66 in the US in 2012, during which he was robbed.
Mr Stevens asked him: ‘I don’t know whether you will remember this… but on August 25, 2012, you posted this: ‘If anybody has any experience of obtaining emergency travel documents and dealing with stolen passports in the US then any advice would be appreciated.’ ‘ Mr Stevens said a Facebook user later commented on the post and referred him to the Foreign Office’s website. But Mr Windass told the court the post had actually been made by his son so he never saw it.
Tui dropped its prices by up to 30 per cent following the attack on the Bardo Museum in the Tunisian capital and ‘pushed’ holidays to the country, according to Paul Thompson and his wife Zoe, who were in Sousse at the time of the attack.
Tragedy: These are 30 Britons murdered by an ISIS gunman while on holiday in Sousse, Tunisia on June 26 2015
Mr Thompson told the inquest that when his wife mentioned Bardo to a Thomson travel agent, they were told it was a ‘one-off’ and Tunisia was ‘100 per cent safe’.
The coroner, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith, said the only reference Tui made to FCO travel advice in a brochure was in the visa section – and no visa was required for Tunisia. He also read at length from a ‘crib sheet’ produced two days after the Bardo attack for Thomson sales staff. In it, Tui advised staff to tell holidaymakers: ‘Tunisia remains a popular destination for us and customers are enjoying their holidays as normal.’
Judge Loraine-Smith criticised the crib sheet, saying: ‘Firstly it does not give any details of the [Bardo] attack. Secondly, it does not mention terrorism. And thirdly, although it refers to FCO advice, it doesn’t give any guidance as to where it’s going to be found.
‘A number of witnesses have given evidence that they were told that Tunisia was safe. That evidence has been disputed by Tui. But a number of customers would not have gone to Tunisia had they seen the FCO advice.’
The inquest heard in 2013 a suicide bomber blew himself up in Sousse and a terror cell was caught in the area. That year alone, 1,347 people were tried for terrorism. In 2014, another cell was discovered.
Andrew Ritchie QC, representing 20 of the families, said Tui ‘neglected’ to take any steps to improve security at the Imperial Marhaba Hotel after the Bardo attack. Staff had no training in responding to terror attacks and one actually opened the door to the administration area where customers were hiding, allowing Rezgui in.
Kylie Hutchison, from law firm Irwin Mitchell, which represents 22 families, said: ‘On behalf of clients who lost members of their family and those who suffered injuries, we will now be preparing civil proceedings against Tui.’
Yesterday Cheryl Stollery, wife of John Stollery, 58, a former paratrooper who was shot dead next to her as they tried to flee, said: ‘Questions have been left unanswered and responsibilities have not been accepted, so we are not able to rest or move on.’
During the inquest, Tui denied it had ‘pushed’ holidays to Tunisia and that its prices were determined by an algorithm. It also maintained that security was the responsibility of the hotels.
Nick Longman, managing director of Tui UK, said yesterday: ‘What happened in Tunisia shocked and devastated all of us.
‘We have already taken steps to raise awareness of the FCO’s Travel Aware campaign. As an industry we have adapted and we will need to continue to do so.’
The 30 Britons who lost their lives while sunbathing or inside luxury hotel at hands of ISIS killer
In all, 30 Britons were killed in the Tunisian beach massacre, along with three Irish citizens.
One British tourist was shot dead in an earlier attack on the country’s national museum.
They were:
British tourist Sally Adey, 57, from Shropshire, was among 22 people killed as ISIS terrorists opened fire at the Bardo National Museum in the capital Tunis in March 2015
Joel Richards, 19, a student at the University of Worcester and a talented football referee, believed to be the youngest of the British victims in the Sousse attack in June 2015; his uncle Adrian Evans, a manager at Sandwell Council in the West Midlands; and his grandfather Charles ‘Patrick’ Evans, 78
Former plumber John Welch, 74, and his partner Eileen Swannack, 73, from Wiltshire. The couple, who had been together for eight years, were staying at the RIU Imperial Marhaba, a hotel they ‘adored’ and stayed in every year of their relationship
Christopher Bell, 59, and his 54-year-old wife Sharon, from Leeds
Former plumber John Welch, 74, and his partner Eileen Swannack, 73, from Wiltshire. The couple, who had been together for eight years, were staying at the RIU Imperial Marhaba, a hotel they ‘adored’ and stayed in every year of their relationship
John Stollery, 58, a social worker from Nottinghamshire. He was on holiday with his wife Cheryl and son. He worked with children in care at Nottinghamshire County Council, and his wife said ‘he made a difference and gave his best to others’
Retired scientist David Thompson, 80, from Tadley, Hampshire. It is understood he used to work for the Atomic Weapons Establishment and was a keen walker
Chris Dyer, 32, an engineer who practised jiu-jitsu, from Watford. He was on holiday with his wife Gina Van Dort when he was shot. She clung on to her dead husband’s hand as paramedics tried to get her to safety, according to reports
Trudy Jones, 51, a divorced single mother-of-four from Gwent, South Wales. Described by her family as ‘a caring person who put everyone else before herself’, she had been holidaying with friends when she was killed
Bruce Wilkinson, 72, a grandfather who was said to be a retired power station worker from Goole, East Yorkshire. He was described by his family as a ‘kind and compassionate man’
Lisa Burbidge, 66, a grandmother-of-four from Whickham, Gateshead. Her family said she doted on her grandchildren and described her as the ‘most beautiful, amazing, caring and gentle person in our lives’
Carly Lovett, 24, from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The fashion blogger, who was on holiday with her fiance Liam, reportedly survived the massacre on the beach only to die when a grenade was thrown into her hotel
Former Birmingham City football player Denis Thwaites, 70, and his wife Elaine, 69, who lived in Blackpool. They had arrived at the resort two days before the attack. Mr Thwaites, a hospital porter, played for Birmingham City from 1962 to 1972 while his wife worked in hospitality
Former Birmingham City football player Denis Thwaites, 70, and his wife Elaine, 69, who lived in Blackpool. They had arrived at the resort two days before the attack
Philip Heathcote, 52, from Felixstowe, Suffolk. His wife Allison, 48, was seriously injured in the attack. The couple had been celebrating their 30th anniversary when they were caught up in the atrocity
Engineer Stephen Mellor, 59, from Bodmin in Cornwall. He was killed as he shielded his wife Cheryl on the beach
Sue Davey, 43, from Staffordshire, and her partner Scott Chalkley, from Derby. The couple worked for Severn Trent Water, who described them as passionate and hugely caring
Claire Windass, 54, from Hull. She was killed while her husband Jim survived the attack
Jim and Ann McQuire, aged 66 and 63, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire. Mr McQuire was a captain in the Boys’ Brigade, a Christian youth organisation, which said it was ‘shocked and deeply saddened’ by his death
Stuart Cullen, 52, from Lowestoft in Suffolk. He is believed to have died instantly. His wife was injured but survived
Billy and Lisa Graham, from Bankfoot near Perth in Scotland. The couple were on a trip to the tourist resort of Sousse to celebrate Mrs Graham’s 50th birthday
Retired printer John Stocker, 74, and his wife Janet, 63, from Morden, Surrey. Their family said the pair ‘were the happiest, most loving couple’
Jim and Ann McQuire, aged 66 and 63, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire
Sue Davey, 43, from Staffordshire, and her partner Scott Chalkley, from Derby. The couple worked for Severn Trent Water, who described them as passionate and hugely caring
Ray and Angela Fisher, believed to be aged 75 and 69, from Leicester. Their son Adam, from Redhill in Surrey, had not spoken to his parents since they left for their holiday
The Irish victims were: Lorna Carty, a mother-of-two from Robinstown, Co Meath. Bishop of Meath Michael Smith said Mrs Carty was the victim of a ‘senseless killing’
Husband and wife Laurence and Martina Hayes, both in their 50s, from Athlone in Co Westmeath. Mr Hayes was a schools transport inspector who had worked for Bus Eireann for the last 20 years.
Billy and Lisa Graham, from Bankfoot near Perth in Scotland. The couple were on a trip to the tourist resort of Sousse to celebrate Mrs Graham’s 50th birthday
Retired printer John Stocker, 74, and his wife Janet, 63, from Morden, Surrey. Their family said the pair ‘were the happiest, most loving couple’
Ray and Angela Fisher, believed to be aged 75 and 69, from Leicester. Their son Adam, from Redhill in Surrey, had not spoken to his parents since they left for their holiday
Husband and wife Laurence and Martina Hayes, both in their 50s, from Athlone in Co Westmeath. Mr Hayes was a schools transport inspector who had worked for Bus Eireann for the last 20 years
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