London Bridge heroes who tackled the jihadist with a narwhal tusk and fire extinguisher are to be awarded Britain’s highest civilian medals for bravery
- Darryn Frost tackled Usman Khan with a narwhal tusk on November 29
- He was joined by manslaughter convict John Crilly wielding a fire extinguisher
- Another four men joined in the effort to subdue Khan before he was shot dead
- Boris Johnson’s spokesman called them: ‘The very best of the British people’
The heroes who tackled the London Bridge jihadist Usman Khan are to be awarded the highest civilian honours for bravery.
Darryn Frost, who fought Khan with a narwhal tusk, and John Crilly, who doused the knifeman with a fire extinguisher, are to receive either the George Cross or the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said they would likely get their medals next year, telling The Sun they were ‘the very best of British people.’
Darryn Frost, 38, (holding a narwhal tusk) and John Crilly, 48, (wielding a fire extinguisher) are to be awarded the highest civilian honours for bravery
Frost (left), who fought Khan with a narwhal tusk, and Crilly (right), who doused the knifeman with a fire extinguisher, are to receive either the George Cross or the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.
Frost, 38, and Crilly, 48, who was on licence for manslaughter, chased Khan down London Bridge after he fatally stabbed Cambridge graduates Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25.
They were joined in the gallant endeavour by tour guides Thomas Gray, 24, and Stevie Hurst, 34, Polish kitchen porter Lukasz Koczocik, 38, and a British Transport policeman.
After the terrorist was subdued he was shot dead by armed officers. Khan had been wearing a mock suicide vest during the November 29 attack.
Lukasz Koczocik grabbed hold of a 5ft lance when he heard chilling screams while washing glasses at Fishmongers’ Hall
Thomas Gray, 24, (left) and Stevie Hurst, 34, (right) are friends and both work for a company called Small Car Big City, which runs bespoke tours of London in old Mini Coopers
Boris Johnson’s spokesman told The Sun: ‘The Prime Minister and the country have huge admiration for the courage they showed.’
Labour MP Neil Coyle told the paper: ‘Anyone who tries to tackle a terrorist at great risk to themselves should be recognised for the bravery shown.’
While Tory Mark Francois said: ‘The honours system is a highly appropriate way of recognising these incredible individuals whose bravery undoubtedly saved lives.’
Vigils were held in London and Cambridge today to remember Cambridge graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, who died in the attack
The men are likely to receive their honours in the Queen’s Birthday list next summer or in the 2021 New Year’s list.
It was previously reported that Mr Koczocik had been put forward for the highest level of bravery honour in his homeland of Poland.
He is said to have pulled a ceremonial lance off the wall inside Fishmongers’ Hall and been the first to go after Khan, having heard the shrieks of the victims from another floor.