UPDATE: 8.50pm

A NEWPORT gas engineer has praised the fundraising efforts in aid of a fellow colleague who was shot three times in the Tunisia terrorist attack.

John Derbyshire, who was among a group of gas fitters who started the fundraising page that has raised more than £13,000 in the space of a few days, said the support was an “excellent act of camaraderie”.

It comes after Matthew James was shot three times as he tried to protect his fiancée as a gunman killed 38 people on a beach in Tunisia last week.

The 30-year-old gas engineer took bullets to his shoulder, chest and hips as a terrorist fired at tourists at the sunbeds at the Sousee Beach resort in Tunisia.

Since then gas fitters have come together to start a fundraising page to help support Mr James and his family as he recovers from his injuries.

With the couple planning to get married in 2017 others have also volunteered to bake the wedding cake, take photographs and help in any way they can on their big day.

Mr Derbyshire, aged 33, of Longtown Grove in Coedkernew, Newport, said there had been an “amazing response” in such a short time.

Since the page was launched Mr Derbyshire had been trying to promote it and share it on social media.

He said the support from fellow colleagues was an “excellent act of camaraderie” as they rallied round to support one of their own.

“Everyone has their own bills to pay and families to support, but this has brought everyone together.

“I don’t think it could have gone much better than this in the space of a weekend.

“If it carries on like this it would be unbelievable.”

Mr Derbyshire, who has a two-year-old son, also praised Mr James for protecting his fiancée.

“I think everyone thinks to themselves that’s what they would do, but until you are there and dealing with it you never know,” he said.

“You see it happen in films but you don’t expect it in real life.

“I would like to shake his hand after what he has gone through.”

You can still donate towards Matthew James and his family at gofundme.com/matthewjamesfund

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A FUNDRAISING campaign has been set up to help Matthew James, the South Wales man shot three times while protecting his fiancee Saera Wilson during the terrorist attack on a Tunisian beach.

The Matthew James Fund, set up by fellow gas industry employees - Mr James, from Pontypridd, is a gas engineer - has raised more than£12,500 in just two days to help support Mr James through his recovery.

Full details can be found at www.gofundme.com/xydfac Are you from Gwent and planning to help out? E-mail newsdesk@southwalesargus.co.uk or give us a call on 01633 777226.