You’re the best...hero PC honours brave terror victim
‘Freya has shown humility and modesty beyond her years and touched the nation’s hearts’
BRAVE terror attack survivor Freya Lewis was yesterday described as the very best of British by a hero policeman who fought off knife-wielding jihadis at London Bridge.
The inspirational duo came face to face at a glittering awards ceremony.
Freya, 15, was only three yards from the explosion that ripped through Manchester Arena at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22 last year.
She was honoured at yesterday’s The Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons 2018 for her inspirational recovery.
Yesterday PC Wayne Marques, who was repeatedly stabbed as he fought the terrorists behind the London Bridge attack just weeks later, said: “The judges were unanimous on who was the overall winner. It was a person who encompassed all of what they believed the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons represents.
“It was someone who overcame all adversities to make an indelible motivating stamp on the whole nation. An individual whose desire to achieve and to help others is truly and emotionally inspirational. An individual who showed the fight of good over evil will always triumph.”
The schoolgirl suffered 29 separate injuries, including a broken arm, two broken legs, severe burns and facial and internal injuries.
Doctors fought to keep her alive and she has faced a long and painful battle to learn to walk again.
Freya’s next hospital appointment is Halloween as she continues her long journey to recovery which has seen her undergo 70 hours of surgery.
The schoolgirl had been excited to be see one of her musical idols but her life changed for ever when 22-year-old Islamist terrorist Salman Abedi detonated a homemade bomb as the concert fin- ished. The terror attack killed 22 people including Freya’s best friend Nell Jones, 14, and wounded a further 139, more than half of them children.
In a show of defiance Freya, from Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, was back at school three months later. She completed the Great Manchester Run a year after the bombing and has so far raised £60,000 for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Her indomitable spirit saw her crowned the overall winner at the ceremony at the prestigious Army & Navy Club in London, hosted by Falklands War hero Simon Weston.
Freya said: “I am shocked because every one of the nominees was so amazing. It’s crazy and just doesn’t feel real.” Told she represented everything that is great about Britain, she said: “I am just me – a tiny girl from Cheshire. I am honoured and overwhelmed.
“I find it a bit weird people when call me brave or a heroine because I don’t think I am whatsoever. I am just normal. I have just done what anyone would have done in my situation. I am back on the road to recovery. I am not quite there yet but there is not too far to go now. I am doing well. I felt like I was back to normal in the first couple of weeks. I am doing my GCSEs so it’s a bit stressful but I like school.”
British Transport Police officer PC Marques, 40, last week received a George Medal from the Queen for taking on the gang of jihadis with his baton. He had clocked on for a night shift on June 3 when he heard screams and charged the first attacker before he was set upon by all three.
PC Marques temporarily lost his sight and suffered sickening injuries to his head, leg and hand. He was singled out for showing “exceptional courage” against “overwhelming odds”. He was crowned last year’s Amplifon hero and wanted to return to present Freya with her award.
He said: “When I was asked to present this award I could not refuse.
“Freya is a young person who has shown a humility and modesty beyond her years but has touched the hearts of all the nation.”
THE Brave Britons Awards never fail to move us. From Freya Lewis, teenage survivor of the Manchester Arena bomb, to brave PC Mohammed Nadeem and those who rescued the Thai boys in the flooded cave. What an inspiration they all are.