Ex-miner Bernard Kenny, who tried to stop Jo Cox murder, dies aged 79

The former miner who attempted to prevent MP Jo Cox being murdered by a right-wing extremist has died.

Bernard Kenny, who was stabbed and seriously injured in the June 2016 attack, died on Monday morning at the age of 79.

He intervened as mother-of-two Mrs Cox was repeatedly shot and stabbed by neo-Nazi terrorist Thomas Mair in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

The late Labour politician's husband Brendan Cox praised Mr Kenny as a "hero" who "personified the best of our country".

Mrs Cox's brutal murder, on 16 June last year as she arrived to hold a constituency surgery, occurred a week before the EU referendum.

Earlier this year, Mr Kenny, who lived in Mrs Cox's Batley and Spen constituency, was awarded the George Medal for his actions.

The pensioner said he was "honoured to receive such an award", which is handed out for gallantry in a non-combat situation.

Mr Kenny's heroism had led to 80,000 people signing a petition calling for him to be awarded with the George Cross, the highest civilian award.

His family were told he would "forever be remembered as a true hero", with Mr Kenny having also tried to save victims of the Lofthouse pit disaster in 1973 as a member of the Gomersal Mines Rescue team.

Labour's Tracy Brabin, who was elected as MP for Batley and Spen after Mrs Cox's death, said: "My heartfelt condolences go out to Bernard's family at this sad time.

"I hope they will take comfort in the fact that Bernard will forever be remembered as a true hero, both as a member of the Miners' Rescue Team and as a constituent of Batley and Spen who risked his life to protect Jo Cox.

"Bernard was brave and selfless, we will never forget him."

In a statement to police, made from his hospital bed as he recovered from the attack, Mr Kenny described how he had seen Mair going "beserk" as he waited for his wife outside Birstall's library.

He said: "I thought if I could jump on to the back, I could take him down.

"I thought he was thumping her until I saw the blood. I saw he had a knife in his hands.

"It was what I call a dagger. The blade was about nine inches.

"Just as I got short of him, he turned around and saw me. He shoved the knife in and it hit me in the stomach.

"The blood started pouring out between my fingers. I saw the blood and I thought 'Oh my God'."

Mr Kenny described Mair's attack as a "pure act of evil".

Mair, who a court was told shouted "Britain first" as he attacked Mrs Cox, was given a whole life sentence for the late MP's murder in November last year.

He was also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Kenny and possession of a gun and dagger.