Nine get Queen's bravery awards

Nine people, including a police officer killed during an anti-terror raid, have received bravery awards from the Queen.

Det Con Stephen Oake, 40, who was stabbed to death at a house in Manchester in 2003, was posthumously awarded a Queen's Gallantry Medal.

Security worker David Duguid received the same award for overpowering a gunman on a Yemen airstrip in 2007.

Kevin George Francis, 48, from Essex, was also recognised for saving a pilot from a burning aeroplane in 2006.

Det Con Oake, a father-of-three, died after being stabbed with a kitchen knife while going to the aid of colleagues during a raid on flats in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester.

"We are extremely proud that his sacrificial act of bravery has resulted in this prestigious award"
Lesley Oake
Stephen Oake's widow

In June 2004, Kamel Bourgass was jailed for 22 years for the murder and attempting to kill three other police officers.

Det Con Oake's widow, Lesley, described the receipt of the Queen's Gallantry Medal as "great news" for her family.

"Steve's actions on that fateful day in January 2003 were typical of a man who was committed to his job and to his colleagues," she said.

"We are extremely proud that his sacrificial act of bravery has resulted in this prestigious award."

She added that the medal was also for the "many officers that were involved on that day".

Casualty help

Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said Det Con Oakes had made a "great sacrifice" in the battle against terrorism.

He added: "These awards are only given out in exceptional circumstances and the whole force is pleased that Stephen's great bravery has been recognised in this way."

An unnamed detective sergeant, who was also at the scene and who was stabbed twice as he attempted to assist Det Con Oake, was also awarded a Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

Another recipient of the Queen's Gallantry Medal was David Duguid, an unarmed security worker who was shot as he repeatedly tried to stop a gunman in Yemen two years ago.

When the attacker began firing at casualties on the ground at an airstrip, Mr Duguid ran forward as a distraction and later overpowered the assailant.

Despite being wounded, Mr Duguid went on to help other casualties, giving first aid to the most seriously injured and continuing to help with treatment on the way to hospital. One man died in the attack.

The third recipient of the Queen's Gallantry Medal, was Kevin George Francis, from Dunmow, Essex, who braved dense, acrid smoke to pull a pilot from a plane which had crashed on take-off at Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

Also receiving awards were two police constables from West Mercia Constabulary who were awarded Queen's Commendations for Bravery for tackling a gunman.

Pc Richard Gray, 43, a father-of-two, was shot dead when he rushed to the aid of two unarmed colleagues taken hostage by a man armed with a rifle on an estate in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in 2007.

At the same incident, Pc Matthew Crisp provided cover while his unarmed colleagues escaped before directing other officers to the scene.

Bomb blast

Adrian Heili and Lee Francois Hunt also received Queen's Commendations for Bravery for their actions immediately after the 7 July 2005 terrorist bomb attack at Edgware Road Underground station.

Mr Heili, an advanced first aider, gave medical help to a seriously injured man who was trapped under the train.

He later helped move the man to the station platform before administering first aid to other injured passengers.

Meanwhile, Mr Hunt, a London Underground train driver who was on a break when the bomb exploded, also crawled under the train to help the same injured man.

He then returned to the bombed carriage to help others.

Insp Andrew Galbraith, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Bravery for his handling of a public order incident in Belfast.