Spanish 'Skateboard Hero' Ignacio earns George Cross for bravery

The 92-year-old monarch has granted the award to Ignacio Echeverría, an HSBC analyst who jumped off his bike and began beating the terrorists with his beloved skateboard to keep them in check before the police reached the scene.

Ignacio was stabbed in the back during his act of bravery and later died in hospital from his wounds.

The 2018 Civilian Gallantry list has just been published, and 20 residents appear on it for their heroic actions in attempting to save lives – many of them during the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester.

Along with Ignacio, Australia's Kirsty Boden, who also died trying to help terrorism victims, has been given a George Medal.

According to the George Cross Committee, Ignacio, 39, 'undoubtedly prevented more lives from being lost' by attacking the terrorists and allowing other members of the public time to escape.

Two police officers who confronted the killers, and a third officer from Scotland Yard who was off duty but helped them out, two civilians who helped save the third officer's life, two London Transport Police officers and a baker who hurled two heavy boxes of bread at the terrorists are on the George Medal list and will receive the annual award that has been given since the year 1940.

British resident Hassan Zubier, who was injured saving victims during a knife attack in Finland last year, is another recipient.

Ignacio Echeverría was born in Ferrol, Galicia, on Spain's far north-western tip, but grew up in Madrid and was living and working in London at the time of the attack on July 3 which killed eight people – Ignacio included – and left 48 injured.