Post by neil6147 on Dec 9, 2007 7:02:29 GMT 10
Hero baggage handler John Smeaton has received a bravery award at a star-studded ceremony in New York.
The Glasgow Airport worker was honoured by TV news channel CNN at a glitzy tribute gala for helping to thwart an alleged terror attack in the summer.
He received the Everyday Superhero award in Highland dress.
Mr Smeaton, 31, from Renfrewshire, mingled with stars including Tyra Banks, Glenn Close, Harry Connick Jr and the Duchess of York.
The event was held at the American Museum of Natural History.
The CNN heroes awards are designed to honour everyday people and their extraordinary accomplishments.
Mr Smeaton - nicknamed Smeato - won worldwide acclaim for his actions during the alleged terror attack on Glasgow Airport on 30 June.
He raced to help when a burning jeep was driven into the airport terminal building.
Mr Smeaton tackled a terror suspect who was attacking a police officer and also pulled another injured rescuer to safety away from the burning vehicle.
Speaking to CNN after he received the award, he said he did not hesitate to act.
He said: "A switch went in me and I just went towards it rather than go away from it.
"I don't think you can stand back and see a police officer getting attacked.
'It wasn't just me'
"If you see a police officer under attack you have got to step in, it's your civic duty to stand up and take on the culprit.
"I didn't think, I just reacted. There was no thought process, no assessment of the situation, I just reacted to something and before I knew it everything had kicked off."
But he paid tribute to the others who helped, saying: "It was not just me that day."
The awards ceremony was followed by a two-hour gala with performances from Grammy Award winners Norah Jones, Mary J Blige and Sheryl Crow.
In October, Mr Smeaton and three other men were also presented with outstanding bravery awards by prime minister Gordon Brown for their actions that day.
The Glasgow Airport worker was honoured by TV news channel CNN at a glitzy tribute gala for helping to thwart an alleged terror attack in the summer.
He received the Everyday Superhero award in Highland dress.
Mr Smeaton, 31, from Renfrewshire, mingled with stars including Tyra Banks, Glenn Close, Harry Connick Jr and the Duchess of York.
The event was held at the American Museum of Natural History.
The CNN heroes awards are designed to honour everyday people and their extraordinary accomplishments.
Mr Smeaton - nicknamed Smeato - won worldwide acclaim for his actions during the alleged terror attack on Glasgow Airport on 30 June.
He raced to help when a burning jeep was driven into the airport terminal building.
Mr Smeaton tackled a terror suspect who was attacking a police officer and also pulled another injured rescuer to safety away from the burning vehicle.
Speaking to CNN after he received the award, he said he did not hesitate to act.
He said: "A switch went in me and I just went towards it rather than go away from it.
"I don't think you can stand back and see a police officer getting attacked.
'It wasn't just me'
"If you see a police officer under attack you have got to step in, it's your civic duty to stand up and take on the culprit.
"I didn't think, I just reacted. There was no thought process, no assessment of the situation, I just reacted to something and before I knew it everything had kicked off."
But he paid tribute to the others who helped, saying: "It was not just me that day."
The awards ceremony was followed by a two-hour gala with performances from Grammy Award winners Norah Jones, Mary J Blige and Sheryl Crow.
In October, Mr Smeaton and three other men were also presented with outstanding bravery awards by prime minister Gordon Brown for their actions that day.