Pride accolade for lollipop lady

Karin Williams suffered serious injuries after diving into the path of an out-of-control car to save the lives of children outside Rhoose Primary School
7 October 2013

A lollipop lady who dived in front of an out-of-control car to push a group of children to safety has been honoured at an awards ceremony to celebrate the country's unsung heroes.

Karin Williams, from Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, won the prize at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, but the mother-of-one insisted: "I'm not brave."

The 50-year-old was given the trophy by actor and comedian James Corden at a star-studded event in central London.

Describing the horrifying incident in which a 61-year-old driver lost control of his car, she said: "I don't remember pushing the children away.

"I just remember standing on the pavement with the children around me waiting to cross, and the next thing I knew I was on the ground with a paramedic leaning over me telling me not to move.

"I wasn't in pain. I was in shock."

After being handed the award in front of Prime Minister David Cameron, X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger and Brian May from Queen, she said: "I'm not brave.

"I did my job. It was pure instinct."

She was joined on stage by a group of the children she looks after, who wore lollypop lady outfits and signs saying: "Thanks Karin".

Mrs Williams was rushed to hospital where she went through an eight-hour operation on multiple injuries to her kneecaps, legs, elbow and shoulder.

Also honoured at the event - now in its 15th year - at the Grosvenor House Hotel were r escue workers Paul Eastment, 46, Chris Missen, 25, and Martin Blaker-Rowe, 33, who saved a woman swept from a car in surging flood water in Umberleigh, Devon.

The event was backed by more than 100 stars and public figures including David Beckham, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, and Usain Bolt, the six times Olympic sprint champion and fastest man in the world.

Beckham was shown presenting the teenager of courage award to Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old Pakistani teenager who was shot in the head by the Taliban after campaigning for girls' education.

He told her: "You're an amazing young lady, a very special young lady, and your story has moved millions of people around the world. I'm so privileged and honoured to present this award to you."

Other unsung heroes who received awards included the families of the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, in recognition of their long fight for justice. The award was collected by Margaret Aspinall, chairman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group.

Eight-year-old Harley Lane, from Stockport, Cheshire, whose legs and arms were amputated to save his life after he suffered meningitis as a toddler, was also honoured.

The schoolboy raised more than £1,000 earlier this year in a sponsored run using new prosthetic limbs.

Clifford Harding, 36, from Birmingham, who volunteers as a youth worker with vulnerable children, won the Prince's Trust young achiever award, while passers-by Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, from Cornwall, Amanda Donnelly, 44, and her daughter Gemini Donnelly-Martin, 20, received a bravery award for their actions in the aftermath of the killing of Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, south-east London, earlier this year.

The Pride of Britain awards will be screened on ITV at 8pm tomorrow.

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