Today, local time, Nathan Newby will receive the George Medal, the second highest civilian award for bravery, for his act of courage that prevented a crime.

Newby's heroism involved an encounter with Mohammad Farooq. In 2025, Farooq was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 37 years after bringing a pressure cooker bomb into St James's Hospital in Leeds. He intended to "kill as many nurses as possible".

On 25/3, Nathan Newby will receive the George Medal for bravery after preventing a terrorist attack. Photo: Telegraph

Farooq, a former clinical support worker at the hospital, harbored a dispute with the nursing staff, which led him to target the facility.

Newby, a patient that day, stepped outside to vape and "get some fresh air". He noticed Farooq, hands in pockets, "stumbling as if he had just received news".

Newby approached, asking, "Are you okay, mate? Are you alright?" He simply wanted to help.

Over several hours, Newby and Farooq spoke. Farooq shared details about his family and children. After about an hour, he revealed his presence at the hospital was "for revenge" and that he "had a bomb".

Newby recounted, "He kept staring at his bag, about 2 meters away, and any nurse who walked past, he would look at them, then look at the bag". Realizing Farooq's words were serious, Newby asked to see.

Mohammad Farooq was captured by surveillance cameras in the lobby of St James's Hospital on the night he planned the bombing. Photo: Telegraph

Despite feeling afraid, Newby's primary goal was to get Farooq out of the building. He succeeded. Before urging Newby to call the police, Farooq asked for another hug, calling him "a wonderful person".

Newby described himself as "just in the right place at the right time", adding that without their encounter, "it's very likely I would have been among the casualties too".

The judge in Farooq's case commended Newby as "an ordinary but extraordinary man, whose goodness and kindness prevented a terrible crime from happening".

By Hai Thu (According to Telegraph)