NOTTINGHAM attack victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar will be awarded the George Medal for her astonishing courage in giving her life to protect a friend.
Brave Grace has been hailed for her heroism by family friends after she was recommended for the honour from King Charles.
Grace lost her life trying to save her pal Barnaby Webber[/caption]
The medical student tried to save her pal Barnaby Webber, 19, from a knife killer in Nottingham in June 2023.
A close family friend said of keen cricketer and hockey player Grace: “Grace was an athlete.
“She could have easily run away but her instinct was to stand by her friend and she paid the ultimate price for her courage.”
Grace, who was also 19, will today be officially announced as a post-humous recipient of the accolade.
Grace’s parents are so, so proud to call her their daughter.
Grace’s friend
A government source said the decision was to ensure her legacy will live on as a powerful example of heroism.
The friend added: “The family are incredibly grateful to the Cabinet Office and the King for recognising their extraordinary, brave and beautiful daughter Grace.
“She was 19 when she put her life on the line and valiantly fought a 30-year-old armed with a large hunting knife.
“The family are so proud of Grace because this act shows exactly the person they knew her to be — someone who never abandoned a friend.
“Grace’s parents are so, so proud to call her their daughter — that’s why they the motto of the charity in her name will always state, ‘Let’s all be more like Grace’.”
The Sun last year led calls for Grace’s bravery to be recognised.
We were backed by PM Sir Keir Starmer, his predecessor Rishi Sunak and senior cops.
In January 2024 Nottingham crown court heard Grace had gone to tragic Barnaby’s aid when he was knifed ten times by Valdo Calocane as they walked home from a club.
She screamed “Don’t do it” and “Why would you do that?” then fought for 30 seconds before suffering 23 wounds.
School caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was also killed by schizophrenic Calocane, who is now detained in a psychiatric hospital.
At sentencing, a judge recognised Grace’s incredible “sacrifice” and “astonishing bravery”.
The accolade would be an example to every other young person. The world, never mind just England, deserves people like Grace.
Grace’s dad
Grace, of Woodford, North East London, had ambitions to follow in her family footsteps and serve as an Army medic.
Her family first learned of her bravery when shown police CCTV of the attack.
Mum Sinead O’Malley said at the time: “Grace is never coming back but we never want her to be forgotten, and this would certainly make sure she is remembered for ever.
School caretaker Ian Coates was also killed[/caption]
Nottingham attacker Valdo Calocane, who is now detained in a psychiatric hospital[/caption]
“Our hope is it would help her be remembered as the wonderful person that she was, and not just for the horrendous fate she suffered.”
The 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.
‘Example to young people’
Discussing the prospect of an honour in April 2024, Grace’s dad Dr Sanjoy Kumar said: “The bravery she showed was incredible for a young girl.
“The accolade would be an example to every other young person.
“The world, never mind just England, deserves people like Grace.”
Brother James added: “She was a hero, that was her character.
“She tried her best to save her friend.”
In January 2024 Calocane admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility and was sentenced to the hospital order with restrictions.
In August 2024 a review into the NHS trust where he was treated revealed officials missed at least eight chances to stop him.
A public inquiry into the killings began in May.
Other George Medal recipients include PC Keith Palmer, who died stopping terrorist Khalid Masood from entering Parliament in 2017, off-duty cop Charlie Guenigault who fought the 2017 London Bridge attackers, and teacher Lisa Potts who defended Wolverhampton children from a machete fiend in 1996.
