Nathan Newby, 35, was awarded the George Medal, the United Kingdom's highest civilian honor for bravery, on 25/3. Before receiving the medal, he revealed details of his encounter with Mohammad Farooq, who brought a homemade bomb to St James Hospital with the intent to "kill as many nurses as possible".

On the evening of 20/1/2023, Newby, a patient at the hospital, stepped outside for fresh air when he encountered Farooq, 29, a clinical support worker there. Newby noticed Farooq with his hands in his pockets, walking erratically as if he had "just received bad news".

"I approached him and asked if I could help", Newby recounted. "I said, 'Are you okay?' and that's really where it all began".

Nathan Newby during an interview on 24/3. *Guardian*

After one hour of conversation, Farooq disclosed his intention to "get revenge" and stated he was carrying a bomb. "Hearing him speak, I knew it wasn't a joke, so I asked to see the bomb. He readily opened it for me to see", Newby recalled.

Newby, who was also dealing with mental health issues at the time, reasoned that if he could get Farooq away from the building, should the bomb explode, only he and Farooq would be in danger. Newby inquired about the blast radius, then guided him to a nearby bench, calculating that "if it exploded, the bomb would only destroy the outer door and not collapse the entire building".

For several hours, the two men simply talked. Farooq spoke about his family and children. "He asked for a hug a few times, and I agreed", Newby said. After their final embrace, Farooq told Newby to "call the police before I change my mind".

Mohammad Farooq in the reception lobby of St James Hospital on 20/3. *CPS*

When asked about his current feelings, Newby suggested Farooq was likely a good person but "his mind was in the wrong place at the wrong time". He stated he doesn't judge and doesn't consider himself a hero, but simply someone "in the right place at the right time".

Authorities identified Farooq as a "self-radicalized terrorist under the influence of the Islamic State (IS)". His choice of the hospital as a target stemmed from a personal vendetta, due to a long-standing conflict with nurses in his ward. He was convicted of "preparing terrorist acts" and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 37 years before parole consideration.

During sentencing in 3/2025, Judge Cheema-Grubb commented that "Newby's kindness prevented a crime in the maternity ward of a major hospital". She affirmed his testimony was "one of the most incredible things the court had ever heard".