Medal for Briton who saved men under fire

A London academic who risked his life to save military colleagues in Iraq has become the first foreign civilian to be given a US medal for bravery.

Dr Andrew Rathmell, 37, repeatedly ran into the line of fire to treat injured soldiers during a mortar and rocket attack while visiting a base north of Baghdad in January.

He was knocked over and temporarily deafened by the assault, which killed two US soldiers.

"Mild-mannered" Dr Rathmell, planning and policy chief for the provisional authority in Iraq, was given the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor. The father-of-two from Enfield is the first recipient since September 11.

He said: "You just don't think - you're scared and you're in shock. But there was no question of not going back, you couldn't stand and let people suffer, you just go to help them."