Leeds Hospital Patient Receives George Medal for Stopping Bombing

On January 20, 2023, Nathan Newby, a patient at St James's Hospital, took extraordinary measures to prevent a bombing that could have claimed numerous lives. His quick thinking and compassionate approach to a troubled individual earned him the George Medal, Britain’s second-highest civilian gallantry award, which he is set to receive today.

The would-be bomber, Mohammad Farooq, a clinical support worker at the hospital, entered the maternity wing carrying a homemade pressure cooker bomb with the intent to kill nurses. Farooq, who had been radicalized by extremist ideology and harbored a longstanding grudge against nursing staff, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 37 years last year.

Newby, 35, from Leeds, was being treated for a chest infection when he noticed Farooq outside the maternity ward, appearing anxious and fidgety. “I just went over to see if he was alright, to see if I could make him feel a bit more comfortable,” Newby recalled. Their conversation began casually, with Newby asking, “How are you, pal? Are you alright?”

About an hour into their discussion, Farooq revealed his intentions and admitted to carrying a bomb. “I could hear it wasn’t a joke,” Newby stated. “So I asked to have a look at it, just to confirm it, and then he just happily opened it up and showed me.” The bomb contained approximately 10 kilograms of explosives, estimated to be double the size of the device used during the 2013 Boston Marathon attack.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Newby felt a mix of fear and determination. He thought, “If it goes off, it’s just going to be me and him, and I want to make sure it’s just me and him and not no one else.” To mitigate potential harm, he tactfully moved Farooq away from the hospital entrance to a nearby bench, calculating that an explosion there would only damage the doors rather than the entire building.

During their lengthy conversation, Newby attempted to distract Farooq from his dangerous intentions by discussing personal issues and encouraging him to open up. “He asked for a cuddle a few times, and I said yeah, of course you can,” Newby said, highlighting the human connection they formed during that tense moment.

Farooq, who had been described by the court during his trial as a “self-radicalized lone-wolf terrorist,” had a grievance with the nursing staff stemming from his previous employment at the hospital. He had watched anti-Western propaganda online and downloaded terrorist handbooks, including instructions on bomb-making.

After some time, Farooq called Newby a “top guy” and urged him to “phone the police before I change my mind.” Newby seized this opportunity, using his phone to call emergency services, all the time remaining calm and collected. “I wasn’t going to shout and things like that because it would have been nervous for others and just cause havoc,” he explained.

Once the police arrived, they arrested Farooq without incident. Newby later described the moment of realization when he was sitting back at the hospital, the enormity of what had unfolded hitting him. “It started sinking that it could have been different,” he said, recalling the gravity of the potential tragedy he had helped avert.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, who presided over Farooq’s trial, commended Newby’s actions, stating that his “decency and kindness” prevented an atrocity. She described his evidence during the trial to be “among the most remarkable the court has ever heard.”

Newby, who has faced his own struggles with mental health, expressed humility about his actions, insisting he does not see himself a hero. “I just think of myself like I was just the right person at the right time,” he said. He believes Farooq is “probably a nice guy” who was simply “going through bad things at the time.”

Newby’s extraordinary act of bravery has drawn attention for its immediate impact and for the underlying message of kindness and empathy. His ability to connect with someone who was on the brink of committing a violent act speaks volumes about the power of human compassion.

Following the incident, Det Supt Paul Greenwood, head of investigations for Counter Terrorism Policing North East, remarked that he had never seen an attack so narrowly averted. “He was the right person, at the right place, at the right time, because most people wouldn’t have done what he did,” Greenwood stated.

The George Medal ceremony, taking place today at St James's Palace, will honor Newby’s actions that saved lives and highlighted the importance of addressing mental health and the struggles that individuals face. “I like to think that anybody would do that,” Newby said, emphasizing the human instinct to help others.

Newby’s story serves to celebrate an individual act of bravery and to remind society of the complex realities that can lead individuals to the brink of violence. His compassionate intervention has not only earned him a medal but has also sparked conversations about mental health, empathy, and the potential for kindness to change the course of events.