The Stanhope Gold Medal for 2022 has been awarded to Lukasz Koczocik. Lukasz, who is the head porter at Fishmongers Hall, showed extraordinary bravery when he confronted an armed terrorist who had already fatally wounded two others during an attack inside Fishmongers’ Hall.
Jimi Adewole and his friend Bernard Kosia were crossing London Bridge late at night after their work shift when they heard a woman crying for help. She had fallen in the Thames, but they could not locate her in the dark. They immediately ran down the steps to the shoreline to help. Jimi entered the dark cold water but soon got into difficulty himself. Bernard, who remained on the shore to call the emergency services, could hear Jimi’s shouts for help but could not see his friend or the drowning woman in the dark. Jimi lost his life that night and his body was recovered later that morning. Another man, Joaquin Garcia, also entered the river and managed to locate and save the woman, although he was exhausted and in grave danger himself. Joaquin Garcia was awarded the Silver Medal for his selfless bravery and Bernard Kosia the Certificate of Commendation.
The Stanhope Gold Medal for 2021 has been awarded to JAMIE INGRAM (47) who was nominated by the Royal Humane Society of New South Wales, Australia. He was put forward for his bravery in apprehending an armed terrorist in the streets of Sydney.
Georgia and her twin sister Melissa were on holiday in Mexico, swimming in a lagoon when Melissa was attacked by a crocodile and dragged under water. Georgia went back into the water to protect her sister, grabbed her and held her badly wounded twin close to her. As Georgia was trying to resuscitate the crocodile returned for another attack but she fought it off with her fists. As she was moving her injured sister to a safer place the crocodile attacked again biting the injured woman’s legs trying to deathroll her and drag her away. Once more Georgia punched it on the nose but it grabbed her arm so she had to fight it off with her other fist. The crocodile finally left, and she was able to haul Melissa to safety.
Lloyd Bishop was waiting on the platform when he noticed a distressed man near the edge, and so he went to chat to him. The suicidal man then climbed down onto the tracks. Lloyd leant over the platform edge and stretched out his hand but his help was refused. Lloyd was horrified to see a high speed through train approaching fast. The man was in extreme danger and so Lloyd jumped down onto the live tracks and hauled him towards the platform. The platform CCTV shows Lloyd lifting him up onto the platform and then scrambling up himself, one second before the train rushes by. Read about this incredible story here.
Alex Jeanguillaume (aged 15 at the time of the incident) was with her friend in the park when they were threatened by a man with a knife. He ordered the teenagers to hand over their mobile phones. They refused so the knifeman moved towards the boy and threatened to attack him. Alex, an Army cadet and who was trained in ju-jitsu, realised the danger and counter attacked. She grabbed the man and threw him to the ground where she fought with him. Read the full story here.
PS Darren Laurie and PC Keith Malda, Metropolitan Police Service, were recognised for their extraordinary bravery and lifesaving acts at two separate terrorist incidents at Westminster Bridge and months later at London Bridge. They were awarded the Bronze Medal and Second Award clasp. This is an exceptionally rare award and pictures of the medal with clasp can be seen in the main article. Later, the Awards Committee awarded both officers the Society’s prestigious Police Medal for their great gallantry. You can read all about their actions here.
The Stanhope Gold Medal 2019 was awarded jointly to Richard Stanton and John Volanthen for their courage and leadership during the Tham Luang cave rescue in Northern Thailand, in July 2018. Their actions, and those of their fellow divers, saved twelve young Thai boys, their football coach, and four Thai water engineers who were also trapped. Read the incredible story here.
Cadet Lance Corporal Abigail McCourt and her family were first on the scene to help Sergei and Yulia Skripal following the nerve agent attack in Salisbury in March 2018. For her selfless action and bravery she was awarded a Testimonial on Vellum. Read more about the incident here.
PC Allan Parker (Silver Medal and Police Medal) was driving along a dual carriageway when he encountered a youth trying to end his life by jumping in front of the speeding traffic. Allan stopped his car and wrestled the boy to safety. Read the whole story here.
