Teen Tried To Save Friend From Knife Attacker
A medical student who was killed during the Nottingham attacks has been posthumously awarded one of the UK’s highest civilian honours for bravery. Grace O’Malley-Kumar, 19, was awarded the George Medal after she tried to save her friend Barnaby Webber during a knife rampage in June 2023.
The pair, both first-year students at the University of Nottingham, were walking home together after a night out when they were attacked. Grace, showing what prosecutors described as “incredible bravery”, stepped in to protect Barnaby and tried to fight off the knifeman before she too was fatally stabbed.
Remembered As A Hero
The George Medal is awarded for acts of “great bravery” and is one of the highest civilian gallantry awards in the country. In the latest honours list, Grace was one of just 20 people recognised.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to her courage, saying: “Her legacy will live on as a powerful example of heroism. This is what true courage looks like.”
A citation accompanying the award described Grace’s actions as “exceptional courage in the face of extreme danger”, and called her a shining example of personal bravery.
Killed While Protecting A Friend
During the trial earlier this year, the court heard how Grace tried to push the attacker away from Barnaby and into the road. She fought to save him in those final moments, before the killer turned on her. Both students were pronounced dead at the scene.
Their attacker, Valdo Calocane, was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was given an indefinite hospital order. Calocane also killed a third victim, 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates, during the same early morning rampage, and attempted to murder three others.
Tributes And Degrees Awarded
Both Grace and Barnaby were honoured with posthumous degrees from the University of Nottingham earlier this year. Grace had been studying medicine and was known for her academic dedication and love of sport. Barnaby, also 19, was studying history and was described by friends and family as kind, bright and full of potential.
Following the attack, a national outpouring of grief led to a campaign to recognise Grace’s bravery with the George Cross – the highest award for civilian gallantry – though the George Medal was later confirmed.
Strength In Grief
Grace’s family are expected to receive the medal on her behalf. The teenager, who grew up in north-east London, has been remembered across the country as a symbol of courage in unthinkable circumstances.
Her selfless actions, taken in a moment of fear and chaos, will now be remembered as an act of extraordinary bravery that captured the spirit of friendship and sacrifice.
