Bravery award for pirate attack
A West Midlands man who battled pirates to save a passenger cruise ship from attack has been honoured by the Queen for his bravery. A West Midlands man who battled pirates to save a passenger cruise ship from attack has been honoured by the Queen for his bravery. Michael Groves, together with Som Bahadur Gurung, fought off an assault on the Seabourn Spirit despite coming under fire from rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. The cruise liner, carrying 300 crew and passengers, was targeted by insurgents 100 miles off the coast of Somalia in November 2005. The Queen told the men they were "very courageous" as she handed over their awards at Buckingham Palace. Mr Groves, aged 41, from the West Midlands, collected the Queen's Gallantry Medal and Som Bahadur Gurung, originally from Nepal, received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Michael Groves, together with Som Bahadur Gurung, fought off an assault on the Seabourn Spirit despite coming under fire from rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.
The cruise liner, carrying 300 crew and passengers, was targeted by insurgents 100 miles off the coast of Somalia in November 2005. The Queen told the men they were "very courageous" as she handed over their awards at Buckingham Palace.
Mr Groves, aged 41, from the West Midlands, collected the Queen's Gallantry Medal and Som Bahadur Gurung, originally from Nepal, received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.
Both men, who were working for Seabourn Cruise Lines at the time, were injured in the attack and are still recovering from the ordeal. But Mr Groves is now involved in a legal dispute. He was a security and safety officer for Seabourn Cruise Lines, but is now no longer working for the company. "As far as I know, I have not been employed by them for some time," he said.
He has launched a damages claim against Miami-based ship owner Carnival, accusing bosses of negligence. Mr Groves said of his experience: "We should never have been put in that situation." He said a hearing is due to take place in California in September, but declined to talk further about the case. "We're still recovering. Shock waves from the Long Range Acoustic Device – the alarm we activated – the blast has damaged my hearing. I have tinnitus."
Mr Groves was called to the deck to investigate two boats approaching the ship – one carrying a group of men armed with rocket launchers and machine guns. He was fired at, but quickly unwound a high pressure hose and aimed the jet at the attackers, forcing them to withdraw.
They returned soon after and began firing rockets and rifles at the liner. Mr Groves was knocked to the deck and suffered ear injuries.
As Mr Gurung was trying to activate the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), he was knocked unconscious after being hit by a bullet. He was dragged to safety by Mr Groves, who returned to switch on the 150-decibel sonic beam alarm.
After about 30 minutes, the pirates, retreated.
Meanwhile, the family of a police officer from Birmingham, who was stabbed to death in the line of duty, collected his posthumous bravery award from the Queen. Dc Mick Swindells died after being knifed as he chased a suspect in the Aston area of Birmingham in 2004.
