The family of Grace O’Malley-Kumar paid tribute to her after it was announced she will receive a posthumous George Medal.
The award, most often given to veterans and uniformed workers, celebrates bravery and courage.
Grace’s mum, told reporters: “Grace was beautiful and brave in life and now is recognised that she was courageous and surplus to the end in her death.
“We have lost our beautiful daughter and life will never be the same again. And I am lost without my girl, my pet, my best friend.
“How I loved her so. I do find it difficult to continue without her, truth be told. But this is about Grace and not about me.
“I hope this honour will shine a light on grace as the exceptional human being she was.
“However, it will also shine a light on the failures of the institutions that ultimately bear the responsibility for the events that led to that night and the grief and heartbreak of all of our families.”