Father and son from Walsall ran for their lives in Tunisia terror attack

Ian Thompson and his son Ryan relived the horror of hearing gunshots as they swam in the sea and ordered drinks from a snack bar.

Nine members of the family were on holiday in Sousse, including Ian's two daughters, sons in law and grandsons.

They were five days into the trip and were staying just three hotels along the beach from where the attack which left 38 dead took place.

Ian, aged 55, of Tantarra Street, Walsall, had been swimming in the sea just 10 minutes before Rezgui's reign of terror began. He was walking back up to his Abou Sofiane hotel with wife Michelle when the shooting started. Son Ryan was at the snack bar when the first sounds of gunshots filled the air and was forced to flee from the beach.

The 18-year-old swimming instructor said: "I heard a popping noise but I convinced myself it wasn't anything major.

"I thought maybe it was a speedboat but then I saw there weren't any boats. No-one knew what was going on.

"We were looking around at what everybody else was doing."

Ian said: "People were flocking off the beach in a panic. It was like the January sales when they open the doors.

"Within half and hour we learned people had been shot.

"There were body bags on the beach.

"We were ushered back into the complex and told to stay indoors if possible.

"They said they couldn't guarantee our safety but that we were more likely to be safe in the hotel."

Ian and Ryan landed back in the UK on Sunday and were speaking outside Walsall's Banks's Stadium yesterday where flowers and scarves were laid for the three supporters killed in the massacre.

Ian, a Walsall season ticket holder, and Ryan decided to visit the ground to pay their respects to Patrick Evans, aged 78, his son Adrian, 49, and 19-year-old grandson Joel Richards.

Ian said: "It's devastating.

"I feel so sorry for everyone, not just the Walsall fans.

"It's absolutely disgusting what's happening in the world in general."