Freedom Of The County Borough – Mathew James

A survivor of the Tunisia terror attack is to be granted the Freedom of the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in a special ceremony at the Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy, on Monday (May 16). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event will also incorporate the inaugural Mayor’s Good Citizen Awards, which will recognise and honour County Borough residents for their efforts to improve their communities and/or those residents that have made outstanding contributions and achievements within their field. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mathew James, 31, of Trehafod, receives the conferment of the Freedom of the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in recognition of his astonishing act of bravery in the face of a terrorist attack in Sousse on June 26, 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mathew was on holiday with his fiancé Saera Wilson, 27, when a gunman opened fire on the beach, killing 38 people and injuring a further 39. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The father-of-two was one of the first tourists to be shot on that day when he used his own body as a human shield to protect Saera from attack. He was shot three times and his heart later stopped on the operating table. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mathew was flown home and continues to recover at home with Saera and their two children Tegan and Caden. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He has since re-launched his business, SAS Gas Solutions, and the couple are now planning their wedding in 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Barry Stephens JP, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: “Mathew James is a real-life hero who did all he could to protect his fiancé from a gunman. Mathew took it upon himself to act as a human shield and was injured whilst protecting his loved one. This was a heroic act of the highest order. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Nobody could have predicted what happened that day. It was a brutal terror attack that sent shockwaves around the world. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The conferment of the County Borough is never something that is bestowed lightly. It is a huge honour for the individual concerned, and indeed their entire family. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It allows them to stand out among the rest of us as we publically recognise their achievements. Mathew James stands out as a giant among men.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mathew said: “It is going to be such a huge honour and a special day for myself, Saera, our children and the whole family. I would do what I did all over again without any hesitation in order to protect Saera. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We both witnessed and experienced things on that day that nobody should have to. It is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Freedom of the County Borough is the highest accolade a Local Authority can bestow, and it is granted for outstanding service to, or achievement associated, with Rhondda Cynon Taf. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Freedom of the Borough, bestowed by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, is only ever presented to distinguished individuals and groups. Past recipients include the South Wales Miners, tenor Stuart Burrows, The Royal Welsh, The Welsh Guards, author and playwright, the late Elaine Morgan OBE, and Bernard Baldwin MBE, the founder of the world-famous Nos Galan Road Races. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Details of Mayor’s Good Citizen Awards to follow. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​