Australian nurse killed while helping victims among eight recognised for bravery during London Bridge attack

An Australian nurse who was killed as she tried to help victims of the London Bridge terror attack is among eight people recognised in one of the largest number of civilian gallantry awards given for a single event since the Second World War.

In total eight police officers and members of the public were recognised for their bravery during the attack.

Kirsty Boden, 28, an Australian nurse who was killed as she tried to help victims on the bridge, is posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

Two police officers who confronted the attackers during their murderous rampage have been awarded the George Medal, for gallantry of an extremely high order.

British Transport Police officer Wayne Marques, 39, was left badly injured after fighting off all three terrorists armed with only his baton, while Metropolitan Police officer Charles Guenigault - who was off-duty at the time - was stabbed after rushing to his aid.

Eight people were killed when Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba attacked crowds enjoying an evening out on June 3 last year.

The awards to those who showed exceptional bravery during the London Bridge attack were among those given by the Queen this year to 20 men and women who paid no heed to their own safety before rushing to the assistance of others, whether in this country or overseas.

Pc Marques, who is recovering from his injuries and hopes to return to work soon, said the recognition is "a silver lining to what was a tragic event", adding: “(It's) a silver lining I hope that not just me but my colleagues and my family and the people who have supported this can take some form of comfort and pride from."

Pc Guenigault said he was shocked but proud to be given the medal, adding: "It just shows you that you don't have to be a police officer to do something amazing as well."

Two members of the public who helped Pc Guenigault, staying by his side during the attack and on the journey to hospital, receive the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for their actions on the night of the London Bridge attack.

Ellen Gauntlett and Justin Jones, from Beckenham in Kent, ran to the aid of Pc Guenigault when he was injured and the awards committee said "they may have saved his life by increasing opposition to the attackers and causing them to run off".

Leon McLeod, who had been on routine patrol with Pc Marques, chased the three terrorists and helped give first aid to some of the victims.

Pc McLeod, who was awarded a Queen's Gallantry Medal, said: "I've had pats on the back I suppose at work and people that know what's gone on but I've just not had anything like this. I wasn't ever expecting anything like this."

Ignacio Echeverria,39, a banker, from As Pontes, Spain, who tried to stop the knife-wielding terrorists with only his skateboard, is posthumously awarded the George Medal after he  “undoubtedly prevented further loss of life” by running towards the terrorists and allowing others to escape.

Kirsty Boden, 28, an Australian nurse who was killed as she tried to help victims on the bridge, is posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

Florin Morariu, a baker from Romania who grabbed two bread crates and threw them at the rampaging terror gang, also receives the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

Beyond the bravery of those caught up in the London Bridge attacks there were other examples of selfless courage recognised by The Queen:

Finland attack

Hassan Zubier was enjoying a holiday in the Finnish town of Turku when he came across what was later described as a scene of carnage.

A terrorist sympathiser had gone on the rampage in the town’s market square, stabbing two women to death and injuring eight others last August.

Putting aside concerns for this own safety Mr Zubier, a Kent-born paramedic, managed to chase Abderrahman Bouanane away, only to be repeatedly stabbed himself when the 23-year old Moroccan returned to the scene.

Mr Zubier, 45, was stabbed in the neck, chest and back as he tried to help one of the female stabbing victims, who died in his arms.

He was left with life changing injuries and now has to use a wheelchair.

Awarding the father of one the George Medal, the civilian gallantry committee said: “Hassan Zubier was aware of the danger to others and to himself, as he knew the attacker was armed when he went to help. But he was determined to assist the victim, despite the attacker returning and attacking him several times."

Mr Zubier, who now lives in Sweden, said in a statement: "I am extremely honoured to be recognised with the George Medal.

"I receive the award with mixed feelings, remembering that two people lost their lives in this attack."

Tywyn Gwynedd beach

Richard Guest and Stephen Adams risked their own lives to save two strangers on a north Wales beach.

Hearing screams coming from the sea the two holidaymakers ran down to the water where they found a girl in difficulties.

Mr Adams led the distressed girl to safety while Mr Guest, 74, stayed behind to search for another teenager who had got into trouble swimming on the beach at Tywyn, Gwynedd in July 2015.

Unbeknown to both men she had already made her way back to the shore, but moments later Mr Adams found Mr Guest face down in the water. He was later pronounced dead.

Unknown to himself or his wife Margaret, Mr Guest had a heart condition, however his wife said that this would not have stopped him from saving the young girls.

Both men receive the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.

Mr Adams said: "I am humbled and honoured to receive the Queen's Gallantry Medal. I would like to take this moment as an opportunity to remember that Mr Guest lost his life trying to help others and to reflect on how merciless the sea can be.”

The committee said: "Both men demonstrated unselfish courage. Neither man knew the two girls yet were willing to risk their own lives to ensure the safety of two strangers."

Queensland hostel

Thomas Jackson was killed trying to save a British backpacker staying at his hostel from a frenzied knife attack in August last year.

The 30-year-old  from Congleton in Cheshire, suffered fatal injuries after being stabbed in the face, head and torso when Smail Ayad. a French traveller, attacked and killed 21-year-old Mia Ayliffe-Chung.

Fellow traveller Daniel Richards, from Tonypandy in Rhondda, Mid Glamorgan, was severely injured while also trying to protect Miss Ayliffe-Chung from Ayad.

Ayad, 29, is alleged to have dragged her from her bed onto a balcony and stabbed her. After jumping from the balcony and killing the hostel owner’s family dog he then went back into the hostel and attacked Mr Jackson, who was helping Ms Ayliffe-Chung.

Mr Jackson’s parents Leslie and Sandra Jackson said yesterday: "Whilst this is clearly a bittersweet moment for our family - we so wish Tom was here to receive the Queen's Gallantry Medal himself - we are inestimably proud and grateful that his actions in trying to protect Mia on that awful day have been recognised in this way. He will always be our hero."

Praising the two men, who receive the Queen’s Gallantry Medal, the committee said: "They were untrained, unprotected and unarmed during the attack. Their actions were to protect the victim."

Burning car

John Moore suffered burns to his hands and face as he saved a driver from a burning car, putting her rescue above his own safety.

During the incident in June 2014 Mr Moore also shielded his partner Theresa Cosgrove and a motorcyclist, who later died, when the car exploded.

The committee said that while the couple, both from Grantham in Lincolnshire, knew they were risking their own lives "they did not hesitate to go to the assistance of the two injured motorists".

Mr Moore was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal while Ms Cosgrove received the Queen's commendation for bravery.

Border Force

Border Force officers David Sant, Lee Townsend and Stuart Woodland, put their lives on the line when they launched a rescue of a sinking fishing boat.

When the boat hit the coast line off the Greek Island of Farmakonisi and began filling with water in January 2016 the three officers set off in two rescue vessels to find survivors in the pitch black.

Aware they were themselves in danger of being thrown onto the rocks Officers Sant, Townsend and Woodland pulled people out of the water and performed CPR.

The men managed to save the lives of 43 people, including at least three children.

Awarding the three men the Queen’s commendation for bravery, the committee said: “Officers Townsend, Sant and Woodland each displayed exemplary acts of bravery, dedication and commitment.”

In a separate incident Border Force officer Gareth Leadbetter led a team that saved a group of 20 migrants from a sinking vessel on the Kent coast in May 2016.

He receives the Queen’s commendation for bravery after displaying “exceptional leadership" and "outstanding composure and resilience".

Derby bar

When Sean Moore spotted a man attacking a customer at a bar with a broken bottle the bouncer leapt to his defence.

The attacker had stabbed the victim in the back of the neck, and was readying to strike again when Mr Moore leapt to his defence by placing himself between them.

Despite being stabbed in the hand Mr Moore from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, continued in his attempts to diffuse the situation and protect the victim from further injury during the attack in a Derby bar in August 2014.

The civilian gallantry committee said Mr Moore’s "first and foremost concern was to prevent further injury or even death to the victim,".

He receives the Queen's Gallantry Medal for his actions.