In a remarkable act of courage, a hospital patient who averted a potential massacre by engaging a lone-wolf terrorist in conversation has attributed his actions to 'pure instinct'. Nathan Newby, 35, from Leeds, successfully talked Mohammad Farooq out of bombing the maternity wing at St James's Hospital, an intervention that has earned him the George Medal, the second-highest civilian gallantry award.
The Night of the Averted Atrocity
On the night Farooq intended to carry out his attack, Mr Newby, who was a patient at the hospital, stepped outside for a vape when he encountered Farooq. Sensing something was amiss, Mr Newby approached him with a simple question: 'How are you, pal? Are you alright?' This initial gesture of kindness sparked a conversation that would last several hours and ultimately save countless lives.
A Chilling Revelation
During their talk, Farooq revealed he was at the hospital 'for some sort of revenge' and disclosed he had a homemade pressure cooker bomb in his bag. Mr Newby noted Farooq's nervous behavior, constantly watching the bag as nurses passed by. 'I could hear it in his voice, it wasn't a joke,' Mr Newby recalled, describing the moment Farooq confessed to the bomb.
Fearing for others' safety, Mr Newby decided to handle the situation tactically. 'I wasn't going to shout... it would have caused havoc,' he said. Instead, he focused on moving Farooq away from the building, thinking, 'If it goes off, it's just going to be him and me.'
Building Trust Through Empathy
Mr Newby managed to guide Farooq to benches further from the maternity ward, an action he described as driven by 'pure instinct'. Over the hours, they discussed Farooq's family and children, with Mr Newby offering empathy rather than judgment. 'I don't judge anybody. Everybody's different,' he stated, even agreeing to hugs when Farooq requested them.
Eventually, Farooq called Mr Newby a 'top guy' and urged him to call the police before he 'changed his mind'. Armed officers arrived shortly after, detaining Farooq, who was later sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 37 years for his planned attack aimed at killing nurses.
Reflections on the Incident
Mr Newby said the gravity of the situation only struck him once he was in a police van after the arrest. He maintains that Farooq was 'probably a nice guy' who was 'going through bad things at the time', adding, 'your mind's capable of doing all sorts of things that you don't expect.'
Despite being hailed as a hero, Mr Newby humbly views himself as someone who was 'just in the right place at the right time'. He reflected, 'I only think about that night if someone brings it up. And then it's like, it's crazy how it could have gone... I was a patient at the time, so I wouldn't be here.'
Background of the Attacker
During Farooq's trial, it was revealed he had become a 'self-radicalised lone-wolf terrorist' with a grudge against nurses from his time as a clinical support worker at the hospital. His plan to 'kill as many nurses as possible' was thwarted by Mr Newby's compassionate intervention.
Today, as Mr Newby receives the George Medal, his story serves as a powerful reminder of how human connection and quick thinking can prevent tragedy, even in the face of extreme danger.
