GRIEVING students at the University of Worcester have paid emotional tributes to Joel Richards, the 19-year-old killed during the Tunisia terrorist attack.
The university held a special memorial service on Monday (June 29) for Joel who was killed during the horrifying machine gun attack in Sousse on Friday (June 26).
The 19-year-old was with his uncle, Adrian Evans, a member of Sandwell Council and his grandfather, Patrick Evans, who both lost their lives in the attack.
Joel’s younger brother is said to have also sustained some injuries during the shootings which claimed three generations from one family among the expected 30 British victims.
The popular teenager was studying Physical Education and Sports Coaching at the university and had just completed his second year.
Professor David Green, vice chancellor and chief executive, said: “Joel was extremely popular and well-known at the University.
“He was also a highly successful student. His tragic loss will be felt deeply across the University. “We are doing our best to support staff and students at this very sad, most difficult time,” he added.
The university has arranged counselling for the staff and students that studied with Joel and offer their sympathies to his family.
Joel has been described as ‘a young talented referee with the world at his feet’ by Birmingham County FA.
Worcester MP Robin Walker paid his respects and said: “It is desperately sad that someone with so much potential who gave so much through his refereeing has been tragically murdered in this horribly unfortunate incident. It is tragic for the one family to have lost three generations.
“As MP for Worcester I can recognise the role the university students play is very important and their people do a huge amount of volunteering. Joel was a fantastic example of this, he worked with local schools and football clubs.
“His family should be incredibly proud of him and of course our thoughts are with them.”
Joel’s killer, 23-year-old Seifeddine Rezgui, was seen walking with a parasol which he dropped to reveal a machine gun that he used to open fire on the unsuspecting victims on a busy tourist beach.
Witnesses reported hearing explosions as the killer went into one of the hotels’ grounds to continue the massacre before being killed by Tunisian police.
“We will now continue to do everything we can to continue to stop this appalling corruption of Islam and issues of violence,” Mr Walker said.
“This was not a long organised attack that can be predicted. It was one individual who was going out to cause as much death and destruction as possible.
