Hero student who died after fighting Nottingham killer receives bravery award

Hero student v will be posthumously awarded for her bravery during the 2023 Nottingham attacks.

Grace, 19, courageously tried to defend Barnaby Webber from Valdo Calocane when he launched at them as they walked home from a night out. She intervened to restrain knife-wielding Calocane when he suddenly set upon Barnaby, 19. Grace was then herself stabbed but continued to fight on until she fell to the floor with multiple injuries. Both Grace and Barnaby died as a result of their wounds.

Grace will be awarded with the George Medal, upon the recommendation of King Charles, for which her citation reads: “Grace’s exceptional courage in the face of extreme danger serve as an outstanding example of personal bravery."

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The honour was founded in 1940 to recognise ‘the greatest heroism or of the most courage in circumstances of extreme danger’.

After Calocane, then 31, had attacked the two University of Nottingham students, He stabbed to death caretaker Ian Coates, 65, and stole his van, which he used to run over and injure three pedestrians before his arrest.

Calocane admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder and was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year. It prompted fury that he was not convicted of murder. Experts had said his schizophrenia meant he was not fully responsible for his actions, and since then a long list of missed opportunities to prevent him committing his crimes has emerged.

Also to be awarded is Richard O’Brien, who has received a King’s Gallantry Medal for intervening in an armed attack in Barnet, north London, on September 21, 2021. While driving, Richard saw two people arguing aggressively and when he stopped his car he saw a man was stabbing a woman.

He got out of his motor and kicked the attacker to stop him before knocking him to the ground and managing to disarm him of a knife. Richard then held the attacker’s face down to the ground until police arrived.

Senior university lecturer Dr Ying Zhang, 55, had attacked estranged wife Hannan Xiao, 52, after following her to a parents’ evening. As his wife returned to her car, he stabbed her between 10 and 15 times in the chest, neck and back, before Mr O’Brien came to her rescue. Ms Xiao survived and her attacker was jailed for attempted murder for a minimum of 22 years in April 2023.

While Alicia Richards and Molly Bulmer have received the King’s Commendation for Bravery after intervening in an armed attack at a school in Sheffield on May 1 last year. They stepped in when Louis Melotte, who was 17 at the time, attacked a 12-year-old girl at the Birley Academy, before turning on youth worker Molly and receptionist Alicia when they intervened.

Both suffered minor injuries and were able to hold Melotte, who was wielding a shard of glass, until police arrived at the scene to arrest him. PC Mark Sutton and PC Thomas Dransfield have received the King’s Commendation for Bravery for rescuing a man falling from a bridge on November 22, 2023.

They responded to a call that a man was hanging from a rope by his neck beneath a bridge. Without safety equipment, PC Sutton climbed over the bridge railings to try and reach the man, clinging onto the pipes.

PC Dransfield followed him, and together they managed to support the man’s weight, and prevent him from falling until fire crews arrived with safety ropes to secure him. After a prolonged and physically demanding effort, all the men were pulled to safety.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said of the recipients: “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.

“I want to pay tribute to all of the recipients, including Grace O’Malley-Kumar who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her friend. Her legacy will live on as a powerful example of heroism.”