Grace O'Malley-Kumar, a 19-year-old medical student who died trying to save her friend during the Nottingham attacks in June 2023, is to be posthumously awarded the George Medal for her “incredible bravery”.
Grace was walking home with Barnaby Webber, also 19, when both were attacked by Valdo Calocane in Nottingham city centre. After Calocane stabbed Barnaby, Grace rushed to his aid, pushing the assailant away before he turned on her in what prosecutors described as an “uncompromisingly brutal” assault.
The George Medal, established in 1940, is awarded for gallantry by civilians or in circumstances where military honours are not appropriate. Grace is one of 20 people honoured in the latest Gallantry Awards list. Her citation read: “Grace’s exceptional courage in the face of extreme danger serve as an outstanding example of personal bravery.”
Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic, later stabbed school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, to death. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
A family friend said: “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.” The family are “incredibly grateful” for the recognition. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “This is what true courage looks like.”
