London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Feb 22, 2025

Queen honours those who lost lives saving others

Queen honours those who lost lives saving others

A climber who died shielding his wife from a rockfall and a mother who protected her child from a house fire are to be posthumously honoured for their bravery by the Queen.

Andrew Foster, who was killed whilst on a camping trip in the US in 2017, is to be awarded a Queen's Gallantry Medal.

'Devoted' mother Leanne Collopy, who died two years ago, will receive the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.

They are among seven individuals to receive honours this month.

All have been included on this year's Civilian Gallantry List, which recognises acts of bravery by civilians and military personnel "not in the face of the enemy".

Nominations are considered by the George Cross Committee, which advises the Queen.

Mr Foster, 32, who lived in Cardiff, was walking with his wife, Lucy, in Yosemite National Park in California, when they were caught in a 1,000 tonne rockfall.

When Mrs Foster lost her footing, her husband ran back and lay on top of her to protect her from the falling rocks, which were reportedly the size of cars.

Mr Foster suffered fatal injuries, but his wife was rescued and made a full recovery.

Ms Collopy was subject to a sustained, brutal attack by her former partner, Saleem Said, in July 2017.

Said had come to the home where she lived with their two-year-old daughter, in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, armed with a kitchen knife.

There, he stabbed Ms Collopy in the head and body and doused her in petrol, before setting fire to the house.

Police found her child in wet clothing, with the window open, suggesting Ms Collopy had been trying to get her daughter out to safety.

Both were rescued by officers but Ms Collopy died in hospital from her injuries.

Her family said they were "immensely proud and honoured that Leanne's final actions as a devoted mum have been acknowledged in such a way".

PC Mark Fletcher, of Lancashire Police, also receives the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for his role in pulling Ms Collopy, her daughter and Said from the fire.

Said was later jailed for life for murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

'Incredibly honoured'


Luke Ridley, who pulled a driver from a burning car on the A303 in Amesbury, Wiltshire, in November last year, will also receive the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

Mr Ridley, who had seen the vehicle veer off the road, cut the driver's seatbelt and dragged her to safety through the rear of the car.

The woman was uninjured, but attending officers said if Mr Ridley had not acted she would have died - the car was engulfed in flames two minutes after they arrived at the scene.

Mr Ridley said he was "incredibly honoured" to receive the award.

"It's a wonderful feeling to know that I saved a life and that people have found my actions to be worthy of recognition," he added.

Kieran Doble receives the same award for intercepting an armed man who entered the family home in Bournemouth in August 2018, intent on killing his mother.

Mr Doble suffered knife wounds to his chest, arm, chin and neck as he fought off the attacker.

Two police officers with Nottinghamshire Police, Sergeant Matthew Daley and Temporary Sergeant Jodi Leonardi, are also being given the Queen's Commendation for Bravery, for disarming a man holding a handgun, while a care home was evacuated during a fire in October last year.


Climber saved wife in 'last act of love'

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Prison Officer Sentenced for Inappropriate Conduct with Inmate
Good News: Senate Confirms Kash Patel as FBI Director
Officials from the U.S. and Hungary Engage in Talks on Economic Collaboration and Sanctions Strategy
James Bond Franchise Transitions to Amazon MGM Studios
Technology Giants Ramp Up Lobbying Initiatives Against Strict EU Regulations
Alibaba Exceeds Quarterly Projections Fueled by Growth in Cloud and AI
Tequila Sector Faces Surplus Crisis as Agave Prices Dive Sharply
Residents of Flintshire Mobile Home Park Grapple with Maintenance Issues and Uncertain Future
Ronan Keating Criticizes Irish Justice System Following Fatal Crash Involving His Brother
Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat Restaurant Faces Unprecedented Theft
Israeli Family Mourns Loss of Peace Advocate Oded Lifschitz as Body Returned from Gaza
Former UK Defense Chief Calls for Enhanced European Support for Ukraine
Pope Francis Admitted to Hospital in Rome Amid Rising Succession Speculation
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, at the age of 83, Declares His Retirement.
Whistleblower Reveals Whitehall’s Focus on Kabul Animal Airlift Amid Crisis
Politicians Who Deliberately Lie Could Face Removal from Office in Wales
Scottish Labour Faces Challenges Ahead of 2026 Holyrood Elections
Leftwing Activists Less Likely to Work with Political Rivals, Study Finds
Boris Johnson to Host 'An Evening with Boris Johnson' at Edinburgh's Usher Hall
Planned Change in British Citizenship Rules Faces First Legal Challenge
Northumberland Postal Worker Sentenced for Sexual Assaults During Deliveries
British Journalist Missing in Brazil for 11 Days
Tesco Fixes Website Glitch That Disrupted Online Grocery Orders
Amnesty International Critiques UK's Predictive Policing Practices
Burglar Jailed After Falling into Home-Made Trap in Blyth
Sellafield Nuclear Site Exits Special Measures for Physical Security Amid Ongoing Cybersecurity Concerns
Avian Influenza Impact on Seals in Norfolk: Four Deaths Confirmed
First Arrest Under Scotland's Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone Law Amidst International Controversy
Meghan Markle Rebrands Lifestyle Venture as 'As Ever' Ahead of Netflix Series Launch
Inter-Island Ferry Services Between Guernsey and Jersey Set to Expand
Significant Proportion of Cancer Patients in England and Wales Not Receiving Recommended Treatments
Final Consultation Launched for Vyrnwy Frankton Power Line Project
Drug Misuse Deaths in Scotland Rise by 12% in 2023
Failed £100 Million Cocaine Smuggling Operation in the Scottish Highlands
Central Cee Equals MOBO Awards Record; Bashy and Ayra Starr Among Top Honorees
EastEnders: Four Decades of Challenging Social Norms
Jonathan Bailey Channels 'Succession' in Bold Richard II Performance
Northern Ireland's First Astronaut Engages in Rigorous Spacewalk Training
Former Postman Sentenced for Series of Sexual Offences in Northumberland
Record Surge in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes Across the UK in 2024
Omagh Bombing Inquiry Concludes Commemorative Hearings with Survivor Testimonies
UK Government Introduces 'Ronan's Law' to Combat Online Knife Sales to Minors
Metal Detectorists Unearth 15th-Century Coin Hoard in Scottish Borders
Woman Charged in 1978 Death of Five-Year-Old Girl in South London
Expanding Sinkhole in Godstone, Surrey, Forces Evacuations and Road Closures
Bangor University Announces Plans to Cut 200 Jobs Amid £15 Million Savings Target
British Journalist Charlotte Peet Reported Missing in Brazil
UK Inflation Rises to 3% in January Amid Higher Food Prices and School Fees
Starmer Defends Zelensky Amidst Trump's 'Dictator' Allegation
Zelensky Calls on World Leaders to Back Peace Efforts in Light of Strains with Trump
×