Hero who tried to stop neo-Nazi from killing British MP dies

[LONDON] A pensioner awarded for bravery after trying to save a British MP murdered last year by a Nazi-inspired attacker has died, his family said on Monday.

Bernard Carter-Kenny was seriously injured when he went to the aid of lawmaker Jo Cox as she was attacked by Thomas Mair, a far-right extremist who responded by stabbing him.

The pensioner's son Phil Kenny confirmed that his father died on Monday morning, aged 79.

The June 16 murder of Ms Cox in the village of Birstall, northern England, shocked the country and led to a three-day suspension in campaigning ahead of Britain's referendum on EU membership.

Mr Carter-Kenny was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II with a George Medal for bravery, awarded this June, which recognised his heroic actions outside Birstall library where he had been waiting for his wife.

In his police statement following the attack, the pensioner said he though he would be able to jump on Mair's back and initially did not realise the assailant was armed.

"Just as I got short of him, he turned around and saw me. He shoved the knife in and it hit me in the stomach."

"The blood started pouring out between my fingers. I saw the blood and I thought 'Oh my God'," the former miner told police.

MP Tracy Brabin, who was elected to represent Ms Cox's constituency following her death, said Mr Carter-Kenny will "forever be remembered as a true hero".

"Bernard was brave and selfless, we will never forget him," she said.

Ms Cox, who defended immigration and campaigned to stay in the EU, was stabbed 15 times by Mair who also fired three shots at the lawmaker.

The neo-Nazi is currently serving a rare "whole life term" punishment for murdering Ms Cox, injuring Mr Carter-Kenny, and possession of a gun and dagger.

AFP