Brave heroes to be celebrated at Pride of Britain Awards

A part-time firefighter who risked his life to save a teenager who fell into the icy depths of a lake is among those who will be honoured at the Pride of Britain Awards.

Thirteen-year-old Kacper Krauze had been trying to swim across the River Eden in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria in February 2019 when he sank to the bottom and was rescued by Appleby fire and rescue crew manager Stephen Warton.

The 53-year-old went against protocol and took off his safety gear to save Kacper, who had been submerged for 25 minutes.

Mr Warton will be awarded the This Morning emergency services award during Saturday night’s event at Grosvenor House in London.

These incredible people make you want to be a better person

Also among the winners are Hughie Higginson, 10, and Freddie Xavi, 11, who raised more than £200,000 after Hughie was diagnosed with leukaemia.

The special recognition award will go to Gee Walker, 67, from Liverpool, to commemorate her devotion to promoting racial harmony.

Her son, Anthony Walker, was killed in a racist murder in Merseyside in 2005.

Since then, his mother has worked to forgive his killers, and a year after his death founded the Anthony Walker Foundation to combat racism.

More than 150 famous faces, including the Prince of Wales, Ant and Dec, Joanna Lumley, Holly Willoughby and Sir Mo Farah are set to join this year’s winners to celebrate their heroism and bravery.

I can’t wait to meet them, see the look on their faces as they are surprised and celebrated and to experience this really special moment with them

Host Carol Vorderman said the awards make you want to be a better person.

She said: “My favourite part of the awards are the winners and how happy they are that they’re being celebrated.

“These incredible people make you want to be a better person. And even though everyone says how much it makes them cry, it is a celebration too, of all the truly extraordinary things they have done.”

Her co-host Ashley Banjo said: “I have so much respect and admiration for all of the winners and I can’t wait to meet them, see the look on their faces as they are surprised and celebrated and to experience this really special moment with them.”

The Pride of Britain Awards will be broadcast on ITV on November 4 at 8pm.