Eight heroes of the London Bridge terror attack, including two who died trying to save others, will be honoured by the Queen today for their bravery.
Three jihadists wielding 12in kitchen knives launched their assault on June 3 last year – leaving eight people dead and 48 injured.
One of the brave civilians used a skateboard to confront the armed terrorists, while another threw bread crates at them.
Among the others recognised for their courage are two men who tried to protect a backpacker during a knife attack in Australia.
Twenty people are honoured on this year’s Civilian Gallantry List, which awards those who have shown bravery in saving or attempting to save someone’s life.
Here are this year’s recipients…
Eight heroes of the June 3 London Bridge terror attack, including two who died trying to save others, will be honoured by the Queen today for their bravery. Above, police rush to Borough Market after receiving reports of further attacks that night
Metropolitan police officer Charlie Guenigault rushed to the aid of the injured during the London Bridge attack despite being off-duty and without protective clothing
Charlie Guenigault
Metropolitan police officer Charlie Guenigault rushed to the aid of the injured during the London Bridge attack despite being off-duty and without protective clothing.
He was out with friends when the terrorists smashed their van into a nearby restaurant.
The 26-year-old, from Dartford in Kent, was stabbed multiple times after running towards the attackers and pushing one of them away from British Transport Police officer Wayne Marques.
He lay still as the attackers fled the scene and was helped by passers-by Ellen Gauntlett and Justin Jones, who are also honoured in this year’s list.
The officer’s award citation reads: ‘Pc Guenigault was off-duty when he showed exemplary action in response to this terrorist attack. He tried to protect fellow police officers and members of the public by distracting and attempting to stop the terrorists.
‘He placed himself in danger and was aware of the possibility of serious personal injury.’
During his heroic actions, Pc Guenigault received stab wounds to his head, leg, back and stomach and had to undergo a three-hour operation to remove his spleen
He is awarded the George Medal.
British Transport Police Officer Wayne Marques fought off all three attackers armed with only his baton as he started his routine patrol on June 3 last year
Wayne Marques
The British Transport Police Officer fought off all three attackers armed with only his baton as he started his routine patrol on June 3 last year.
He was stabbed multiple times as he took on the terror trio when they attacked at London Bridge and Borough Market.
While the officer, now aged 39 and from south London, may not have known at that point they were terrorists, he ‘knew the individuals were extremely dangerous and made a conscious decision to face that danger head on in an attempt to apprehend them and prevent further injury or loss of life’, the committee said.
They added: ‘He demonstrated exceptional courage and resilience. He was subjected to a sustained attack involving extreme violence and faced overwhelming odds. Although seriously injured, he continued to try to protect the public without regard for his own personal safety.’
The officer, also awarded the George Medal, fought despite being temporarily blinded and suffering head, leg and hand injuries.
Australian nurse Kirsty Boden had been on a night out when she went to help those injured in the London Bridge attack
Kirsty Boden
The Australian nurse had been on a night out when she went to help those injured in the London Bridge attack.
The 28-year-old, who lived in Loxton, was killed as she tried to save someone’s life.
The committee said she showed ‘courage and compassion’ during the attack.
It added: ‘She could have taken cover to protect herself, as most people caught up in such a serious and life-threatening situation would have done.
‘However, being a nurse she took her training to care for others to the highest level.’
Ms Boden’s family said: ‘Kirsty’s family would like to thank everyone involved in nominating Kirsty for this award. We are very proud of her.’
She is posthumously awarded the Queen’s commendation for bravery.
Spanish banker Ignacio Echeverria, 39, from As Pontes, was killed after trying to defend a woman with his skateboard
Ignacio Echeverria
The Spanish banker, aged 39, from As Pontes, was killed after trying to defend a woman with his skateboard.
The HSBC analyst was knifed in the back on London Bridge during the terror attack last year.
He is posthumously awarded the medal for confronting armed terrorists to protect others.
The awarding committee said: ‘Using his skateboard as a weapon, he was well aware that it was no match for the weapons that were being used by the assailants.
‘Regardless, he ran towards them with the intention of stopping them from carrying out further attacks on innocent people who were in the vicinity.
‘It is beyond doubt that he displayed great courage in choosing to try to tackle the attackers.’
He is awarded the George Medal.
Florin Morariu
When he was alerted to the terror attack at London Bridge, Mr Morariu armed himself with two bread crates from the bakery he was working in nearby and threw them at the terrorists as they stabbed someone.
He also allowed 20 people to shelter in the bakery during the attack.
Mr Morariu, who has since returned to his native Romania, had decided to engage the terrorists and was ‘determined to stop the attackers from inflicting further wounds on others’, the committee said.
He is awarded the Queen’s commendation for bravery.
Leon McLeod
The British Transport Police officer, aged 30 and from Blackheath, chased after the London Bridge attackers, helped the injured and remained on scene through the night.
He had been on patrol with his colleague Pc Wayne Marques when the attackers targeted revellers on a busy Saturday night in the city.
The committee said: ‘With little regard for his own safety, he demonstrated exemplary bravery by running into what he quickly recognised as a terrorist attack to help the many innocent people who were caught up in it. His courage in the face of adversity as one of the first police officers on scene during this atrocity is highly commendable.’
He is awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.
Left to right, British Transport Police officer PC Leon McLeod has been awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal, and BTP PC Wayne Marques and Metropolitan Police officer PC Charles Guenigault were awarded the George Medal
Ellen Gauntlett and Justin Jones
The pair, of Beckenham in south-east London, ran to the aid of PC Charles Guenigault when he was injured by the terror trio during the London Bridge attack.
They remained with the police officer even as he was taken to hospital, and the committee said ‘they may have saved his life by increasing opposition to the attackers and causing them to run off’.
They are awarded the Queen’s commendation for bravery.
The Queen will award the medals at a special ceremony on Thursday