Tunisia terror attack inquest: Shropshire man held dying wife following fatal shooting

Sally Jane Adey, 57, of Caynton, near, Shifnal, was killed by terrorists when they stormed the Bardo Museum in Tunisia's capital Tunis, on March 18 last year.

An inquest into Mrs Adey's death heard the harrowing and heartbreaking details of the moments she was shot, as she told her husband: "Oh God Rob, I am hit."

Shropshire Coroner, John Ellery, recorded a conclusion of unlawful killing, and said that Mrs Adey had died as a result of catastrophic blood loss from a single rifle bullet wound.

• Terror in Tunisia: More video footage from the museum where Shifnal woman Sally Adey was killed

Giving evidence, Detective Inspector Simon Harding of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said that the British authorities did not consider that the attack could have have been foreseen.

In a statement from Mrs Adey's husband Robert, 51, the coroner heard the details of the frantic moments Jabeuer Khachnaoui and Yassine Laabidi burst into the museum and began indiscriminately shooting tourists - an attack for which terrorist group Islamic State claimed responsibility.

The couple, who had been on a cruise, had been sightseeing in Tunis with other tourists when the attack took place.

Mr Ellery heard how the couple, who have two children Molly, 21, and Harry, 24, had joked about being on "bus 13" for the tour.

Mr Adey's statement, which was read by coroner's officer Julie Hartridge, told how he had been "faffing about with his camera" trying to clear space on the memory card when they first heard gunshots.

The couple were part of a group of more than a dozen tourists looking around a hall on the first floor of the museum when Khachnaoui and Laabidi came in and started shooting.

The inquest heard that the group tried to escape through a door at the end of the room, Mr Adey saying he had grabbed his "terrified" wife and tried to get her out.

Mr Adey said they were only able to get through the door when people "started to fall" and that a bullet had struck the wall above his head.

The couple then hid behind doors on a balcony, but as they did two Japanese women who were with them fell to the floor having been shot.

Mr Adey said he remembered his wife saying "oh God Rob I am hit" and that as she slid down a wall he slid down with her "and just held her".

The inquest heard that Mrs Adey's breathing "went all funny" and that she did not say anything else.

Mr Adey and other tourists were left hiding behind a door to a balcony, with the terrorists passing by and and moving on.

Mr Adey's statement said: "I presumed they must have thought they had done enough damage and moved on.

"They could have killed us all".

The coroner also heard what Mr Adey had described as "the revolting bit", where he revealed how two other tourists had put blood on their faces in an attempt to play dead.

He said that he had also done the same when encouraged to by one of the tourists.

In a statement following the inquest Mrs Adey's family paid tribute to a woman of "strength and kindness".

They said: "Sally was a much loved mother, wife, and daughter. Those who knew her appreciated her strength and kindness, and she will be missed by all."