In a solemn and moving tribute to extraordinary bravery, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, the 19-year-old University of Nottingham medical student who lost her life while trying to save her friend during the 2023 Nottingham attacks, has been posthumously awarded the George Medal. The announcement, made on October 6, 2025, recognizes her "exceptional courage in the face of extreme danger," a phrase that now stands as a testament to her selflessness and heroism.
Grace’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. On the early morning of June 13, 2023, Grace and her friend Barnaby Webber, also 19, were walking home after an end-of-term night out in Nottingham. As they made their way back to their student accommodation, they were suddenly attacked by Valdo Calocane, a 32-year-old diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic. According to BBC News, Calocane stabbed Barnaby first, inflicting grave injuries. In a moment that would define her legacy, Grace intervened, fighting to protect her friend. Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC told the court in January 2024 that Grace "showed incredible bravery," pushing Calocane into the road and trying to fend him off. Sadly, the attacker turned his attention to her, and she was subjected to an "uncompromisingly brutal" assault.
Both Grace and Barnaby succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Calocane then went on to kill Ian Coates, a 65-year-old school caretaker, and used Coates’s van to drive into three pedestrians—Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski, and Sharon Miller—seriously injuring them. The attacks shocked the city and the nation, raising questions about mental health care, public safety, and the unpredictable nature of random violence.
The George Medal, established in 1940 and Britain’s second-highest civilian bravery award after the George Cross, is awarded for "conspicuous gallantry not in the presence of the enemy." As reported by Sky News, Grace is one of 20 recipients in the latest Gallantry Awards list and one of four to receive the honor posthumously this year. The medal will be presented to her family at Buckingham Palace, a ceremony that will surely be filled with both pride and sorrow.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to all the award recipients, singling out Grace’s sacrifice. In his statement, he said, "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." He added, "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."
The citation for Grace’s award reads, "Grace's exceptional courage in the face of extreme danger serves as an outstanding example of personal bravery." Her story has resonated far beyond Nottingham, with many seeing her as a symbol of the courage and empathy that communities hope to foster in their young people. As a family friend told The Independent, "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 expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying, "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."
During Calocane’s trial and sentencing in January 2024, the scale of Grace’s bravery became clear. Her father, Dr. Sanjoy Kumar, addressed the court, telling Calocane, "She heroically and valiantly fought you. Like a hero, she put herself in harm’s way." Calocane pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order, a decision that underscored the tragic intersection of severe mental illness and public safety.
The aftermath of the attacks saw an outpouring of grief and support for the victims’ families. Grace and Barnaby were both awarded posthumous degrees from the University of Nottingham in the summer of 2025. The university community, and indeed the broader public, has continued to honor their memory through vigils, tributes, and now, national recognition.
The campaign for Grace to be awarded the George Medal was supported by many, including a drive last year—backed by then-prime minister Rishi Sunak—for her to receive the even more prestigious George Cross. While the George Medal itself is a rare and significant honor, the push for the George Cross highlighted the depth of public admiration for her actions.
Grace’s award was part of a wider recognition of civilian bravery across the UK. Among the other honorees were Richard O’Brien, who received the King’s Gallantry Medal for intervening in a stabbing in Barnet in 2021, and Alicia Richards and Molly Bulmer, who were commended for bravery after confronting an armed attacker at a school in Sheffield in 2024. Police constables Mark Sutton and Thomas Dransfield were also recognized for rescuing a man from a bridge in 2023. These stories, while each unique, collectively speak to a national spirit of selflessness and courage in the face of danger.
For those who knew Grace, the medal is both a recognition and a reminder of what was lost. Her ambition, kindness, and loyalty have been celebrated by friends, family, and strangers alike. The George Medal will be presented to her family, a bittersweet honor that acknowledges not only her bravery but also the enduring pain of her absence.
As the nation reflects on the events of that tragic June morning and the extraordinary courage shown by Grace O’Malley-Kumar, her story continues to inspire. Her actions in those final moments serve as a powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, acts of selflessness and love can shine through, leaving a legacy that endures far beyond a single day or a single life.
