Bar staff who risked their lives to stop a grandmother from being stabbed to death as she walked home from bingo have received bravery awards.

Ben Pilott, former boss of the Dizzy Donkey in Dover, and security workers - Thomas Endersby, Alannah Saunders-Martinez and Valkyrie Lawless - intervened when Natasza Zakrzewska lunged at the woman with a large kitchen knife.

The four have now been recognised with silver medals at the Police Public Bravery Awards for their extraordinary acts of courage.

Canterbury Crown Court heard last month how Zakrzewska launched her "random and ferocious" attack on the unsuspecting stranger as she walked along Biggin Street in Dover.

CCTV captured the 47-year-old pulling the large kitchen blade from her bra and rushing up to the woman from behind .

Without warning, she then quickly plunged it five times into the woman’s left shoulder and arm area.

Jurors heard that had it not been for the victim’s thick coat and the actions of "exceptionally brave" staff at the nearby Dizzy Donkey, the attack on January 17 could have been fatal.

Just seconds earlier, the workers had been alerted to the knife-wielding Zakrzewsk by two teenage girls she had confronted with the blade as they were walking home from the cinema.

It was as the door staff were helping the youngsters that they spotted Zakrzewska walking towards them, only to suddenly turn her attention to the victim.

Having seen her quicken her pace and raise the knife above her head, they shouted “watch out behind you” as they raced across the street.

Zakrzewska then unleashed her onslaught before being wrestled by the heroic door staff, who removed the weapon from her grip.

In a victim impact statement, the woman described the devastating impact the attack has had on her and thanked the bar staff for their help.

She said: "Without the people there in that moment, I strongly believe I wouldn't be alive now. I am endlessly grateful to them.

"It is the kindness they showed me that I will forever remember."

Zakrzewska, of Salisbury Road, Dover, was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with attempted murder.

She denied the offence before a judge ruled that the diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic was neither fit to plead nor stand trial.

Therefore, a jury was sworn in to decide if Zakrzewska was responsible for the stabbing, rather than consider the issue of guilt.

Having retired to consider the evidence, the jury unanimously decided she had done the act.

Under the Mental Health Act, Judge James ordered that Zakrzewska be detained in a psychiatric unit until she is no longer considered a danger.

He also praised the bravery of the security staff.

Speaking to KentOnline after the hearing, Mr Pilott recalled the moment he and the door staff grabbed Zakrzewska.

“As I was trying to get the knife out of her hand it was slowly dropping toward my wrist,” he said.

“Just as it made contact with my wrist, I managed to snap the blade from the handle.

“Luckily, it was one of those large kitchen knives with a plastic handle. If it was the other kind that is all metal, I hate to think what could have happened.”

At the Police Public Bravery Awards in Sheffield on October 23, Mr Pilott and the three security staff each received a silver medal for their extraordinary and selfless acts.

Chief Constable Lauren Poultney, who hosted the ceremony, said: “Policing has always relied upon the support of the communities it serves.

“Each year, I am humbled to hear of the courage and bravery displayed by ordinary members of the public who undertake extraordinary acts of bravery, often on behalf of someone they have not met before.

“Public spirit, and the active citizenship it creates, adds significantly to the impact of any police force. We work together with our communities to prevent harm, prevent crime and create safer spaces.”

The ceremony is held each year to honour the brave members of the public who have placed themselves in dangerous situations, carrying out courageous and selfless acts to help protect others, defend their communities, prevent and detect crime and actively assist the police.

This year, the prestigious Binney Award was handed to yoga teacher Leanne Lucas, who suffered multiple injuries as she helped protect children during the Southport attack in July 2024.