Hero Barrow sergeant who single-handedly tackled axe-wielding attacker in line for top award

Kevin Milby, of Barrow, managed to disarm the man to prevent passers by from being injured.

The officer is in the last four in the Service to Country category as global hearing specialist Amplifon searches for unsung heroes who represent ‘The Best of British’.

The awards are in their fourth year and celebrate truly remarkable people and pets, and the winners will be judged by a panel including Falklands war hero Simon Weston.

Sgt Milby was the sergeant covering the Dalton area when reports came in of a man carrying an axe. When he arrived at the scene, the man made a dash into a nearby shop.

He urged him to put the axe down, but the man made his way into another shop. Fearing for the safety of others, he entered the shop and rugby tackled the man to the ground before arresting him.

Further investigations revealed the axeman had earlier forced his way inside a house and attacked another man, causing him life-threatening injuries.

Sgt Milby, who joined the police force in 2003 and is now a custody sergeant, said: “There were lots of people milling around and getting quite close to him before they realised he was armed, so I was concerned for their safety. The situation needed to be resolved quickly, so instinct took over and I’m glad it ended the way it did.

“The victim was very lucky because he had significant head injuries but no long-lasting effects.”

He added: “My family was proud of me but I was just doing my job. I feel humbled to have been put forward for the award, it’s quite overwhelming, especially when you see the other people who are nominated for awards like this.”

The Amplifon awards are in their fourth year and celebrate truly remarkable people and pets and the winners will be judged by a panel including Falklands War Hero Simon Weston and presented with their awards by the Duke of Kent.

The awards will be held in London, on October 15.