Boy, 13, 'heroically ran towards danger' to ensure his younger siblings' safety during vicious knife attack which left his father dead on his front lawn

  • Freddie Boorman, from Gloucestershire, saved his siblings' lives in October last year when a knife-wielding attacker stabbed his father Matthew to death
  • Hearing his mother Sarah's screams in the front garden, Freddie ran towards danger and found his siblings in the house
  • He held them tight and protected them from harm while paramedics arrived
  • Freddie, 13, was honoured for his bravery at the first ever Child of Britain Awards last night

A 13-year-old boy who saved his siblings' lives while his father was stabbed to death by a knife-wielding attacker yards away has been awarded for his bravery.

Freddie Boorman was playing on his Xbox at home in Gloucestershire last October when he heard his mother Sarah screaming in the front garden.

After running downstairs towards the screams Freddie saw his father Matthew being brutally attacked.

Despite the trauma of what he had witnessed, oldest brother Freddie had one priority - to protect his seven-year-old sister and two-year-old brother.

He calmly walked into the living room where his siblings were watching cartoons and turned up the volume on the TV.

Freddie Boorman, 13, was honoured for his remarkable bravery at the Child of Britain Awards after saving his younger siblings' lives

Freddie Boorman, 13, was honoured for his remarkable bravery at the Child of Britain Awards after saving his younger siblings' lives

Freddie, pictured centre, has a seven-year-old sister and a two-year-old brother

Freddie, pictured centre, has a seven-year-old sister and a two-year-old brother

Tragically, Freddie's father Matthew did not survive the horrific, unprovoked knife attack

Tragically, Freddie's father Matthew did not survive the horrific, unprovoked knife attack

Putting his arms around his brother and sister to make sure they were safe, he waited for paramedics to arrive. Tragically, Matthew did not survive the attack.

After being described as 'heroic' by police officers, humble Freddie said: 'I'm a brother. That's what brothers do.'

Courageous Freddie was honoured at the first ever Child of Britain awards last night, held at The Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane in London.

Hosted by TV presenter Eamonn Holmes, the star-studded awards ceremony celebrated the bravery of children around the country.

The event was also a fundraiser for the Cash for Kids charity, with lucrative prizes auctioned off including the chance to meet Ant and Dec at filming of Saturday Night Takeaway.

As Freddie received his Special Recognition Award, his mother said she 'could not be more proud of him'.

Sarah added: 'His dad would be the proudest dad in the room tonight.'

Freddie was one of several children honoured at the awards ceremony, who have all achieved incredible things.

Tobias Garbutt Weller, 11, Young Sporting Hero Award

Tobias Garbutt Weller, 11, was inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore to begin fundraising during the pandemic and has now raised more than £158,000 for charity

Tobias Garbutt Weller, 11, was inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore to begin fundraising during the pandemic and has now raised more than £158,000 for charity 

Tobias, who has autism and cerebral palsy, can find day-to-day tasks like getting ready challenging.

In March 2020 the schoolboy, who walks with a frame, was inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore to walk the distance of a marathon.

Over the next 70 days Tobias walked up and down his street in Sheffield - but he didn't stop there. 

After completing his incredible feat, he set out to take on an Iron Man Challenge and finished a second marathon using a race runner, cycled 112 miles on an adapted trike and swam 2.4 miles in his pool.

Tobias's unbelievable sporting achievements have raised £158,000 for Sheffield Children's Hospital and Paces School for Conductive Education. 

He is the youngest person ever to feature in the New Year Honours list and has received a British Empire Medal from the Queen.  

Brooke Hurry, 11, Child of Courage Award

Brooke Hurry, 11, stood up in a school assembly when she was just seven years old to teach her classmates about alopecia

Brooke Hurry, 11, stood up in a school assembly when she was just seven years old to teach her classmates about alopecia

Diagnosed with alopecia at just four years old, Brooke's strength and determination has allowed her to focus on activities that she loves including ballroom dancing, acting and presenting.

She has even interviewed Matt Lucas as a volunteer for Alopecia UK. At just seven years old she stood up in a school assembly to teach other pupils about the condition.

Brooke, who is Head Girl at her school, never lets alopecia get in the way of what she wants to achieve. 

The Byrne family, Courageous Family Award

The Byrne family, who have been through unimaginable tragedy, have made sure to repay the kindness they were shown by hospices who helped them through grief

The Byrne family, who have been through unimaginable tragedy, have made sure to repay the kindness they were shown by hospices who helped them through grief

Sophie and Sean Byrne's first daughter Olivia tragically passed away at eight months old after being born with complex medical needs.

After her death, the pair went on to have Harry, eight, Reuben, two, and 15-month-old Felix.

When Reuben was born with the same condition as Olivia, the family pulled together and stayed strong. But sadly, he passed away in December 2021.

Since losing Olivia and Reuben, the family has raised more than £51,000 for the hospices thay cared for their children and the family.

Inspired by his words to Reuben: 'I love you to the moon and back', Harry decided to cover the distance it would take to get around the moon.

Together with Sophie and the boys, Harry also climbed the Three Peaks. 

Tyler Ford, 14, Young Sporting Hero Award

Tyler is a multiple World Kickboxing Champion, World Games triple gold medallist, Dutch Open Champion, German Open Champion, Welsh Champion, British Champion, European Champion, Kwon Grand Champion, Lords Woods Combat Series Grand Champion, Welsh National Amateur Boxing Champion and British MMA Champion.

Training in kickboxing since the age of three, he was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame at eight years old - the youngest person ever to reach that achievement. 

Working as an actor and stuntman on the side, Tyler also gives back to his community.

He visited a four-year-old fan suffering with cancer in hospital and gave him one of his gold medals as well as paying for a specially adapted wheelchair to be made for him. 

Fazeel Irfan, 15, Child of Courage Award  

Fazeel Irfan, 15, suffers from a rare and painful condition called EB - but he doesn't let it stop him from doing what he loves

Fazeel Irfan, 15, suffers from a rare and painful condition called EB - but he doesn't let it stop him from doing what he loves

Fazeel suffers from a very rare and painful condition called severe recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (EB). 

His condition means he is in extreme pain, as his joints contract and jhis membranes fuse together.

Every day he has to go through between four and six hours of painful dressing changes every day and takes lots of medication to help him. 

Despite struggling to walk, to use his hands fully, to open his mouth easily, he continues to give 100 per cent in everything he does in his life. He has one motto - never give up.

Despite living with constant pain Fazeel attends a full day of school every day and even goes to karate once a week.

He never complains and always has a smile on his face, and is an ambassador for Debra, an EB charity.

Aleesha Gadhia, seven, Environmental Champion Award 

Aleesha Gadhia, seven, has set up a climate change club at her school to encourage others to look after the environment

Aleesha Gadhia, seven, has set up a climate change club at her school to encourage others to look after the environment 

Aleesha is the first youth ambassador for Cool Earth, which aims to raise awareness of climate change and lobbies businesses to operate more sustainably.

She continually raises funds and has set up a climate change club at her school to encourage others to look after the environment - often going litter picking and planting trees.

In October 2021, Aleesha was honoured with a Points of Light award from prime minister Boris Johnson - and has even received an email from Sir David Attenborough.

Sean Porter, nine, Young Leader Award

Sean Porter, nine, wants to use his technical skills to keep helping children like his brother Adam, who has autism

Sean Porter, nine, wants to use his technical skills to keep helping children like his brother Adam, who has autism

When Sean was asked to produce a mobile game as part of a school project, he insted designed an app to help his six-year-old brother, Adam.

Adam was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and he rarely communicated verbally. 

'Speak with Sean' was specifically designed for children who are non-verbal to help them communicate. 

It works by using pictures and sounds that allow the child to communicate what they want and need. 

As every child is different, the app has been designed to be user-specific to each child and to their own wants and needs.

Sean wants to keep using his tech skills to support Adam and other people like him.  

Ruben and Elena Evans-Guillen, 11, Young Fundraiser Award

Twins Ruben and Elena have raised more than £45,000 for charity since 2018

Twins Ruben and Elena have raised more than £45,000 for charity since 2018

Twins Ruben and Elena have made it their mission to make a positive difference to children who are less fortunate than themselves.

The pair became ambassadors for the Warrington & Halton Hospital at six years old, and don't let their ADHD stop them from helping others.

Since 2018 they have raised more than £45,000 completing incredible tasks like a 100km challenge.

In 2021, they became ambassadors for MedEquip4Kids and conducted 100 acts of kindness across the region.

Thea Martin, eight, Young Performer Award

Thea, who started ballet aged three, has performed Swan Lake with The English Youth Ballet and overcomes anything to train.

While recovering from a broken elbow, Thea auditioned for The Royal Ballet School Associate Programme and was successful.

She was a finalist at The International Russian Ballet Awards and awarded 'One to Watch' at the Performance Platform.

Davin Sheikholeslami, Bravery Award

Davin Sheikholeslami's bravery and sensible thinking led to the arrest and prosecution of the armed burglars who ransacked his home

Davin Sheikholeslami's bravery and sensible thinking led to the arrest and prosecution of the armed burglars who ransacked his home

Three years ago, Davin's home was broken into by three men armed with knives and a machete. His parents were forced upstairs while the intruders began to search the house for valuables. 

Davin heard the commotion and hid under his bed, where he couldn't be seen. Seeing the intruders' feet moving around his bed, he remained silent until they left his room.

Then he phoned the police, whispering into the phone so that he wasn't heard. When the police arrived, they arrested the thieves who were trying to escape. 

Davin received a Commendation from South Yorkshire police and recently received a Silver Medal of Police Public Bravery, an award that goes to those who have shown great courage.

Move the Mind CIO, Outstanding Charity Award 

Move the Mind is a charity dedicated to supporting young people with a variety of complex special educational needs. 

Founder Nicole Gillard has worked with children with additional needs and disabilities for over 20 years, and she has built a sensory space set in 14 acres of land. 

The charity's 'Horse Boy method' and 'movement method' help children with autism and other neurocognitive conditions to heal sensory dysfunctions and to gain direct communication. 

Hannah Chowdhry, 18, Community Champion 

Hannah Chowdhry, 18, is a long-term campaigner against knife crime and took part in projects to feed the homeless during the pandemic

Hannah Chowdhry, 18, is a long-term campaigner against knife crime and took part in projects to feed the homeless during the pandemic

During the Covid outbreak, Hannah was on the frontline at a daily project to feed the homeless and vulnerable in Ilford as the youngest volunteer for the British Asian Christian Association. 

She started volunteering at the Association's food bank and 'Meals for the Homeless' project in 2020 and helped to serve 65 people with meals twice a day during lockdown.

After seeing some of her classmates using legal highs, Hannah led a campaign to create a portal so people across the borough could report and map drug-related crime. 

She is also a long-term campaigner against knife crime and sat on a youth reference panel for the Mayor of London's Office for Policing and Crime, and was an Essex and Redbridge Youth Councillor. 

Kristian Ball, Exceptional Young Carer Award 

Kristian Ball is a carer for his brother Caleb, who is severely disabled and non-verbal

Kristian Ball is a carer for his brother Caleb, who is severely disabled and non-verbal

Kristian, who is partially-sighted, lives with his grandparents and three brothers.

Caleb, one of his brothers, is severely disabled, and has no verbal communication.

Kristian helps and supports his grandparents to care for Caleb by reading to him and playing with him, and also helping to feed and dress him. 

When Caleb is in hospital and his grandmother is with him, Kristian helps out his grandfather at home.

Kristian volunteers at a young carers group, Cheshire Buddies, and offers support to children who look after disabled siblings.

He is currently studying for his A Levels and hopes to go to university.