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| Grenade hero awarded George Cross | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A Royal Marine who threw himself on a grenade to save his comrades' lives is to receive the George Cross. | A Royal Marine who threw himself on a grenade to save his comrades' lives is to receive the George Cross. |
| Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher, 24, from Solihull, in the West Midlands triggered a trip wire in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in February. | Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher, 24, from Solihull, in the West Midlands triggered a trip wire in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in February. |
| He immediately dropped to the ground and lay across the grenade, being blown into the air as it went off. | He immediately dropped to the ground and lay across the grenade, being blown into the air as it went off. |
| The George Cross is one of the highest decorations that can be awarded for acts of gallantry. | The George Cross is one of the highest decorations that can be awarded for acts of gallantry. |
| L/Cpl Croucher said: "All I could do in the moment was shout out 'grenade' before diving on top of it." | L/Cpl Croucher said: "All I could do in the moment was shout out 'grenade' before diving on top of it." |
| His bag was crammed with equipment which cushioned the explosion. His three comrades suffered just cuts and bruises while L/Cpl Croucher was thrown in the air. | His bag was crammed with equipment which cushioned the explosion. His three comrades suffered just cuts and bruises while L/Cpl Croucher was thrown in the air. |
| He acted to save his comrades in the most certain knowledge that he would not himself survive Sir Jock Stirrup He added: "It was incredible. I escaped with only a nose bleed and a headache." | He acted to save his comrades in the most certain knowledge that he would not himself survive Sir Jock Stirrup He added: "It was incredible. I escaped with only a nose bleed and a headache." |
| L/Cpl Croucher, a reservist, is one of 20 living recipients of the award. | L/Cpl Croucher, a reservist, is one of 20 living recipients of the award. |
| Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup said: "He acted to save his comrades in the most certain knowledge that he would not himself survive. | Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup said: "He acted to save his comrades in the most certain knowledge that he would not himself survive. |
| "His exemplary behaviour and extreme heroism are fully deserving of the nation's highest recognition." | "His exemplary behaviour and extreme heroism are fully deserving of the nation's highest recognition." |
| His parents said they had had no idea what had happened to him. | His parents said they had had no idea what had happened to him. |
| 'Might meet Queen' | 'Might meet Queen' |
| His mother Margaret Croucher, 55, a teacher in Birmingham, said she got three text messages from him while he was away, one of which read: "Being put forward for a citation, might meet the Queen." | His mother Margaret Croucher, 55, a teacher in Birmingham, said she got three text messages from him while he was away, one of which read: "Being put forward for a citation, might meet the Queen." |
| She said: "Obviously I was very intrigued but we didn't get the full story until he got back and we read about it in the papers. | She said: "Obviously I was very intrigued but we didn't get the full story until he got back and we read about it in the papers. |
| "I am obviously immensely proud but it was a typical act from him. It was not the first time he had put his life at risk." | "I am obviously immensely proud but it was a typical act from him. It was not the first time he had put his life at risk." |
| His father, Richard, 57, described him as a very "lucky man". | His father, Richard, 57, described him as a very "lucky man". |
| L/Cpl Croucher is expected to receive his honour from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in the autumn. | L/Cpl Croucher is expected to receive his honour from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in the autumn. |
| He was deployed to Afghanistan attached to Taunton-based 40 Commando Royal Marines last autumn. | He was deployed to Afghanistan attached to Taunton-based 40 Commando Royal Marines last autumn. |
| Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Birrell, the unit's commanding officer, said: "This was a magnificent act which absolutely typified the highest traditions of commando service." | Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Birrell, the unit's commanding officer, said: "This was a magnificent act which absolutely typified the highest traditions of commando service." |
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| Lance Corporal Matthew Crouche recounts the day he threw himself on a grenade |