Leeds Hospital Vape Break Turns into Life-Saving Heroism as Man Foils Suicide Bomber
In an extraordinary act of bravery, Nathan Newby, a patient at St James's Hospital in Leeds, transformed a simple vape break into a heroic intervention that prevented a potential mass murder. On a cold winter night in January 2023, Newby's presence of mind and compassion led him to talk down a suicide bomber, an action for which he is now being honored with the George Medal, the United Kingdom's second-highest civilian award for gallantry.
A Chance Encounter Outside the Maternity Wing
Nathan Newby, 35, was receiving treatment at the hospital when he stepped outside for some fresh air and a vape. He noticed Mohammad Farooq, a 28-year-old trainee nurse at the facility, looking agitated and upset near the entrance to the Gledlow maternity wing. Initially thinking Farooq might be distressed about a sick relative, Newby approached him to offer comfort. "He seemed like he might want a chat or had some bad news, so I went over and asked how it were. And it just went from there really," Newby recalls.
However, Farooq was far from an anxious family member. His trial later revealed he was a lone-wolf terrorist inspired by Islamic State, targeting the hospital due to a grievance with nurses on his ward. He had a pressure cooker packed with 10 kilograms of gunpowder in a bag, intending to kill nurses by luring them outside with a bomb threat or exploding the device during a shift change.
The Tense Stand-Off and Strategic Calm
As Newby engaged Farooq in conversation, he grew suspicious of a bag left about six feet away. When he asked directly what was inside, Farooq hesitated before confessing it contained a bomb. Skepticism turned to stark reality when Farooq opened the bag to reveal the DIY explosive device, rigged up earlier in his car outside Roundhay Park. "That's when I knew this is real. It were like a pressure cooker - like a slow cooker with wires out the top," Newby says.
Recognizing that panic could trigger detonation, Newby remained calm despite the imminent danger to his own life. He deliberately befriended Farooq, discussing personal issues to divert his focus. "I stuck with him, trying to take his mind off what he wanted to do, get to know him, see if I could change it," he explains. His strategy involved calculating how to move Farooq away from the building to minimize potential casualties, all while playing for time during the nearly deserted night hours.
Critical Moments and the Eventual Surrender
The stand-off lasted approximately six hours, with Newby mentally preparing to stay until morning when the hospital would become busier. In a pivotal moment, Farooq asked for a hug, then requested that Newby call the police before he changed his mind. Using Farooq's phone—as his own was out of battery—Newby dialed 999, though he feared the number might detonate the bomb. During the call, Farooq revealed an imitation gun, which Newby calmly asked him to set aside.
Armed police soon arrived, securing the area and ending the confrontation. Farooq was later found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of 37 years in prison. Investigations uncovered his extremist ideology and a prior plan to attack RAF Menwith Hill, which he abandoned due to tight security.
Recognition and Reflection on Heroic Actions
Nathan Newby's quick thinking and humanity are credited with saving numerous lives that night. Reflecting on the incident, he notes that the full gravity of the situation only hit him afterward. "If I hadn't got that chest infection, got rushed in, and had been at home, he'd have gone for it and I'd be seeing it on the news," he says. His selfless actions have earned him the George Medal, awarded for conspicuous gallantry in non-combat situations, highlighting how an ordinary moment can lead to extraordinary courage.
