Tunisia beach massacre survivor played dead to avoid gunman’s deadly rampage before discovering best friend had been killed by recognising her glittery nail varnish
A MOTHER of four murdered as she sunbathed at a Tunisian tourist resort was identified by her "glittery nail varnish on her toes" by her friend who only escaped the massacre by playing dead, an inquest has heard.
Trudy Jones, a 51-year-old carer from South Wales, had been on holiday with friends when she was shot and killed on the beach in Sousse in 2015.
Carol Anne Powell had been holidaying with Ms Jones, recounting the horrific moment she heard "the most terrible explosion" from the beach.
In a statement read out to the inquest, she said: "I wanted to run towards the beach to check on Trudy but people were running towards me and were shouting 'go go'."
Surviving the massacre herself by playing dead in the car park for 15 minutes, the inquest heard that Ms Powell then had the devastating job of identifying the body of her friend - the first of the 30 British victims to be discussed during the inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Referring to the identification of the body, Ms Leek QC said Ms Powell had gone to the mortuary in Tunis and said: "She looked at photographs and initially did not see anyone that looked like Trudy.
"Later she saw a photograph that looked like her."
The court heard Ms Powell was shown the body of the woman and "recognised the glittery nail varnish on her toes" of her friend.
Ms Jones, from Blackwood, was shot just 48 hours before she was due to fly home from her holiday with a friend - with her devastated family watching the inquest into her death from Cardiff via video link.
A postmortem carried out on the body of Ms Jones found that she was killed by a "single gunshot wound to the neck and chest".
The devastating last moments of holidaymakers is now being examined after gunman Seifeddine Rezgui used an assault riffle and grenades to launch at attack at the popular resort of Port El Kantaoui on the morning of June 26, 2015, killing a total of 38 people from different countries.
The terror attack in Sousse remains the deadliest to Britons since the London bombings on July 7, 2005.
During the opening week of the estimated seven week inquiry, the court heard on the day of the attack the security response was "deliberately and unjustifiably slowed down" to delay its arrival at the scene.
The inquest was also told the UK Government was aware of weaknesses in Tunisian security around holiday resorts "to prevent or respond" to a terror attack months previously.
But the Foreign Office did not warn holidaymakers tourists were being targeted by ISIS because there was no specific threat.
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A short personal portrait statement, written by Ms Jones' family, was read out in court by Samantha Leek QC, counsel for the inquest.
It said: "Trudy would put everyone's happiness before her own. Making others happy made her happy.
"She was a very caring person. And that is why her job came so naturally to her.
"The residents at the care home have said how much of an impact she made to their lives and they all miss her.
"She made a positive impact on the lives of everybody she met.
"You only had to meet her once and you never forgot her. The world was a much better with her in it."
The inquest also heard how an elderly couple killed during the Tunisia beach massacre "didn't stand a chance" after the terrorist opened fire.
John Stocker, 74, and wife Janet, 63, were slain in front of friends during the atrocity.
They had been planning to have dinner with Anthony Miller and wife Julie that night when gunman Seifeddine Rezgui, opened fire on the beach killing 38.
Anthony had met the tragic couple at the the Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse the year before.
Relieving the horror attack today, he told how he bravely lay on top of his wife and told her to "play dead" as the gunman sprayed holidaymakers with bullets.
In his statement he said he had gone down to the beach in the morning to reserve sun beds for the day, with the Stockers just a few beds away.
He recalled seeing a man dressed in black standing in front of them, who he believed was a policeman and at first.
Anthony said: "I heard what I thought was firecrackers going off. I looked up at the man and he was standing over John and Janet holding something in his hands.
"I saw he had a machine gun and realised we were being shot at. He seemed to have a job controlling it and was swinging it side to side. I think that may have saved us."
He added: "I began to hear people shouting run.
"I knew Julie wouldn't be able to run so I threw her into the ground an lay on top of her. I told her to play dead."
"I thought [John] was alive. Janet had fallen forward, half on and half off his sun bed.
"I'm not sure how many times they had been shot. They must have been the first to be shot. They didn't stand a chance."
He added: "I realised there was nothing I could do for John and I needed to look after my wife."
The couple were described as "happy" by devastated family members in an emotional statement at the inquest today.
It said: "They were both young at heart and enjoyed all life had to offer.
"They were frequent flyers and enjoyed travelling to new places and exploring.
"John and Janet's home life revolved around the simple pleasures of family and friends."
It added: "They died together doing what they loved he most, being side by side."
The inquest, which is due to last for further six weeks, will continue tomorrow with further evidence relating to the victims of the attack.
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