Rebecca SherdleyEast Midlands
PANottingham attacks victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar will be awarded the George Medal after she made the “ultimate sacrifice” to protect her friend.
Ms O’Malley-Kumar tried to defend Barnaby Webber, both 19, as they were fatally stabbed by paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane on 13 June 2023.
She is one of 20 recipients of the civilian gallantry awards, and one of four awarded it posthumously.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to all the recipients, including Ms O’Malley-Kumar, who he said made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her friend, and her legacy will live on as a “powerful example of heroism”.
Sir Keir said: “This is what true courage looks like.
“In moments of unimaginable danger, these extraordinary people acted with selflessness and bravery that speaks to the very best of who we are as a nation.
“We owe each of them – and their families – our deepest thanks.
“Their actions remind us of the strength and compassion that run through our communities.”
Family handoutThe George Medal is Britain’s second-highest civilian bravery award after the George Cross, and is given for “conspicuous gallantry not in the presence of the enemy”.
To be awarded posthumously, a relative must attend Buckingham Palace, where the King or another royal presents the medal in person.
The awards are given out to people in recognition of their courage and bravery in the face of danger.
University of Nottingham students Ms O’Malley-Kumar, from east London, and Mr Webber, from Taunton, Somerset, were walking home to their student accommodation after an end-of-term night out when they were fatally stabbed in Ilkeston Road just after 04:00 BST on 13 June.
Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC had told a court hearing in January 2024 – where Calocane had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility – Mr Webber had been stabbed “repeatedly” with a dagger, inflicting “grave injuries” and causing him to fall to the floor.
Ms O’Malley-Kumar showed “incredible bravery”, he said, and tried to protect her friend, fighting and pushing Calocane, 32, into the road, but the killer then turned his attention to her and was “as uncompromisingly brutal in his assault”, he had added.
Mr Khalil had told the court Ms O’Malley-Kumar’s injuries were too severe and she collapsed as Mr Webber tried to defend himself from the ground, kicking out at his attacker, before Calocane “calmly” walked away.
Calocane went on to kill school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, who was driving his Vauxhall van nearby, when he was repeatedly stabbed.
Nottinghamshire PoliceCalocane was sentenced to a hospital order in January 2024 after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility, and three counts of attempted murder after using Mr Coates’s van to drive into three pedestrians – Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski and Sharon Miller – all of whom were seriously injured.
The citation for Ms O’Malley-Kumar reads: “Grace O’Malley-Kumar was walking home to student accommodation in Nottingham with her friend, Barnaby Webber, when they were approached by a man with a large knife.
“He carried out a sudden attack on Barnaby, leading Grace to intervene in order to restrain the assailant in an attempt to stop the attack.
“This led to the assailant attacking Grace with the knife, who continued to fight the attacker until she fell to the floor having sustained multiple injuries.
“Tragically, Grace and Barnaby both passed away as a result of their injuries from the attack.
“Grace’s exceptional courage in the face of extreme danger serves as an outstanding example of personal bravery.”