In a heartfelt gesture of gratitude, the sister of a George Medal hero has broken her silence to launch a public fundraising campaign, aiming to purchase a car and holiday for her "remarkable" brother. Nathan Newby, 35, was recently honoured with one of the country's highest civilian awards by the King for his bravery in preventing a catastrophic terror attack.
Fundraiser Launched in Secret
Natalie Newby from Leeds, along with her friend Jess Shaw, secretly set up a GoFundMe page to show Nathan how "proud" she is of his actions. To date, the campaign has already raised an impressive £2,745, with donations pouring in from the public eager to thank the hero.
A Fateful Encounter Outside the Hospital
The incident unfolded in January 2023 when Nathan was vaping outside St James's Hospital in Leeds. He encountered Mohammad Farooq, 30, a nurse at the hospital who was carrying a pressure cooker bomb and planned to massacre colleagues. Nathan, known for his compassionate nature, approached Farooq to check on him, unaware of the deadly intentions.
Over a two-hour conversation, Nathan engaged Farooq in a discussion about life's daily struggles, offering advice and even sharing personal challenges. He revealed, "He told me he had family and kids and I told him 'you're in a better place than me because I want kids and a family, but I can't because of my health'. It was trying to make him feel like he was better than me."
Heroic Intervention Prevents Tragedy
Nathan's empathetic approach proved pivotal. He convinced Farooq to move away from the hospital entrance and ultimately hand himself in to the police, averting what could have been a devastating loss of life. Natalie described her brother as "courageous" and "remarkable," noting on the fundraising page that his actions prevented "huge damage and many lives could have been lost."
She added, "My brother took the time to speak to this man, just about the daily struggles of life. He sat and listened to this man for hours and gave him advice. Advice that was strong enough to make him change his mind and hand himself in."
Modest Hero Downplays His Actions
Despite the gravity of his deeds, Nathan has consistently played down his heroics, attributing it to being in the "right place at the right time." In his first public comments this week, he emphasised his humble perspective, likely explaining why Natalie anticipates he would disapprove of the fundraiser, viewing it as "begging for money."
Recognition Through the George Medal
The George Medal, established by King George VI in 1940 during World War II, is a prestigious UK and Commonwealth decoration awarded for acts of great civilian bravery. Nathan's receipt of this honour underscores the significance of his intervention, which was formally recognised in a ceremony with the King.
Jess Shaw, co-organiser of the fundraiser, praised Nathan's "bravery and kindness," stating before the medal announcement, "This is a cause of bravery and he hasn’t been shown any appreciation or given any awards for this act of kindness. We are raising money for Nathan so he can get himself a car and holiday."
Community Support and Future Hopes
The fundraising initiative reflects a broader community desire to acknowledge Nathan's selflessness. Natalie hopes the funds will help him enjoy a well-deserved break or assist with practical needs like a car, saying, "Even if this helps to put towards a car or holiday for him to enjoy."
As the court case related to the terror plot continues, this story highlights not only an act of extraordinary bravery but also the power of human connection in diffusing potential violence, with a family's love now rallying public support to honour a true hero.
