A-level student who played dead to survive 2014 Taliban massacre of 150 pupils at his Pakistan school wins place at Oxford University
- Ahmad Nawaz, 19, almost lost his arm after a terror attack at his school in 2014
- The Taliban attack in Peshawar killed 150 students including his brother Haris
- He has now accepted a place to study at Oxford University after long recovery
An A-level student who played dead to survive a Taliban attack which killed 150 pupils at his school in Pakistan has earned a place at Oxford University.
Ahmad Nawaz, 19, almost lost an arm when the Taliban unleashed fury at his school in Peshawar in December 2014.
The massacre left dozens dead including Mr Nawaz’s brother Haris, 13.
The teenager, who witnessed his teachers being burned alive in the atrocity, was rushed to hospital in Peshawar and later flown to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment.
He has now accepted a place to study at the prestigious Oxford University.
Ahmad Nawaz, 19, almost lost an arm when the Taliban unleashed fury at his school in Peshawar in December 2014. Pictured: Mr Nawaz today
Sharing a photograph to social media, he said: ‘The terrorists shot me and brutality attacked my school to stop us from getting an education five years ago.
‘Today I’m proud to share that I have secured a place to study at the University of Oxford!!
‘Where there is a will, there’s a way…’
After the attack, Mr Nawaz’s arm was so badly injured that doctors considered amputation.
But after a long road to recovery, he now spends his time touring schools giving anti-radicalisation talks and sharing his incredible story.
‘This is like a second life,’ said the student, who attended King Edward’s High School for Boys in Edgbaston.
The teenager, who witnessed his teachers being burned alive in the atrocity, was rushed to hospital in Peshawar and later flown to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment. Pictured: Mr Nawaz after the attack
After the attack, Mr Nawaz’s arm was so badly injured that doctors considered amputation
‘I was in hospital for three months, and as well as the physical trauma, I was dealing with the emotional side too.
‘It gave me a lot of time to think and I decided that I had to speak out against what happened.
‘A lot of people might just bury it inside and get on with their lives, and many people who were in the same attack that day have chosen to do that.
‘But the lives of my brother and my friend were taken away that day, and that gives me motivation to try to change something, as they haven’t had the chance.’
Pictured: Ahmad Nawaz and Muhammad Ibrahim with Malala Yousafzai in Birmingham
Last year, Mr Nawaz was named a winner at the Pride of Birmingham Awards for his work.
‘It is wonderful,’ he said. ‘ Birmingham has been my city since I came to the UK and I have fallen in love with the place and the people.
‘I have been embraced with respect and love, so it is a real honour to be named a winner at the Pride of Birmingham Awards.’