AN ELDERLY man who tried to save murdered British MP Jo Cox has been posthumously awarded the George Cross by Queen Elizabeth II.
Bernard Kenny was stabbed by Thomas Mair with a 10-inch blade as the deranged killer murdered the Labour MP a year ago.
Ms Cox, who was 41, was shot and stabbed by Mair in the street outside her constituency in Birstall, Yorkshire on June 16, 2016.
Mr Kenny, 71, died from cancer in August – 14 months after he suffered a serious injury to his abdomen in an attempt to save the tragic politician.
His widow Doreen Kenny collected the George Medal from the Queen on behalf of her late husband during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
The dad-of-two was awarded the honour in recognition of his bravery in trying to save Ms Cox.
During Mair’s trial, the pensioner told the court that he had been waiting for his wife outside Birstall Library when he saw Mair attack Ms Cox.
He tried to jump on Mair’s back to “take him down” but was then stabbed in the stomach.
Mair, who had a history of mental illness, was handed a mandatory life sentence over the 'assassination'.
He was also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Kenny as well as possession of a gun and dagger.
A former miner for 40 years, Mr Kenny was part of the rescue operation during the 1973 Yorkshire mining disaster which killed seven.
The George Medal is awarded for ‘acts of great bravery’ and was established in 1940 during the Blitz.
Doreen Kenny said she was proud to pick up the prestigious award on behalf of her “hero” husband.
