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British Indian teen gets UK’s George Medal for bravery
The 19-year-old died while trying to save her friend, Barnaby Webber, during a knife attack in Nottingham in June 2023.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 08, Oct 2025
- 17:17 EDT
- 16
Grace O'Malley-Kumar with her friend / Grace O'Malley-Kumar foundation
British-Indian teenager Grace O’Malley-Kumar was posthumously awarded the George Medal, one of the United Kingdom’s highest civilian honors for acts of bravery.
The 19-year-old University of Nottingham medical student died while trying to save her friend, Barnaby Webber, during a knife attack in Nottingham in June 2023. The two were attacked by Valdo Calocane, who was later sentenced to be detained indefinitely in a high-security hospital under a mental health order.
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Announcing the award on Oct. 6, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “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 official citation described her recognition as: “Grace O’Malley-Kumar, who has received the George Medal for intervening in an armed attack in Nottingham on 13th June 2023.”
Established in 1940, the George Medal is the UK’s second-highest civilian bravery award after the George Cross, given for “conspicuous gallantry not in the presence of the enemy.”
Grace, an accomplished athlete who represented England’s under-18 hockey team and was also a talented cricketer, had been pursuing a career in medicine like her parents, Dr. Sanjoy Kumar and Dr. Sinead O’Malley.
Following her death, the family established the Grace O’Malley-Kumar Foundation to support young people and promote community wellbeing through sport, education, and mental health initiatives.
“She was simply walking home after a night out with her friend, Barnaby, after celebrating end-of-year medical school exams, when Barnaby was attacked,” the foundation’s mission statement reads. “Grace tried to fight off the attacker… Grace’s character would never leave a friend. She did her very best and fought the attacker in a fight she would never win. Grace died a hero.”
O’Malley-Kumar is among 20 individuals honored this week with gallantry awards, including the George Medal, the King’s Gallantry Medal, and the King’s Commendation for Bravery.
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