'Grace paid the ultimate price for her courage - because she would never abandon a friend'

POSTHUMOUS GEORGE MEDAL FOR THE NOTTINGHAM ATTACKS VICTIM

- By SAM HALL & LAURA ELSTON

“SHE placed friendship over fear. She paid the ultimate price for her courage.”

The dad of Grace O'Malley-Kumar has paid tribute to his courageous daughter after it was announced she will receive a posthumous George Medal.

Grace, who was one of three killed in the tragic Nottingham attacks in June 2023, has been recommended for a posthumous George Medal.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the recommendation to King Charles on the advice of the George Cross Committee as a result of the 19-year-old's heroic actions.

Grace died while trying to fight off knife-wielding Valdo Calocane after he brutally attacked her friend Barnaby Webber, also 19, during a rampage across the city.

As well as the two University of Nottingham students, school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was killed in the series of horrifying attacks, which took place in the early hours of June 13, 2023.

Following yesterday's announcement, Dr Sanjoy Kumar said his daughter had been recommended due to her "bravery and courage" that day.

"She was 19 and she valiantly fought a 30-year-old armed with a large hunting knife," he said.

"Grace was an athlete, she could have easily run away, even to seek help, but her instinct was to stand by her friend, intervene, to fight to stop a sustained attack on her friend.

"She placed friendship over fear. She paid the ultimate price for her courage. Because she was the type who never abandoned a friend.