A COURAGEOUS Govilon man who tackled a gunman who had run amok aboard a nuclear submarine is to be awarded the George Medal - one of the highest medals for bravery.

Alistair Neill who is the chief executive of Southampton City Council was visiting HMS Astute, a nuclear submarine, in an official capacity with the leader of the authority Councillor Royston Smith in April 2011 when they came face to face with the gun-wielding navigator seaman.

Alistair gave an interview to the Chronicle last September, following a judge's decision to sentence the gunman to at least 25 years in jail.

The judge in the case then went on to salute Mr Neill's bravery and his subsequent actions to prevent further deaths on board the submarine.

Alistair explained that he was standing behind Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux when the gunman burst into the command deck and killed him.

Within a split second the gunman, Ryan Donavon, appeared, stepping over Mr Molyneux leaving Alistair to come face to face with the killer who was by now pointing the weapon at him, but chose to shoot another naval officer instead.

Alistair firmly believed that the gunman was a terrorist and he was about to witness a massacre - or be a part of it. After a prolonged struggle in which Alistair had one bullet passing within a whisker of his head, he managed to hit the gunman to the ground which enabled Alistair, who by now had sustained a number of broken ribs, to pin him to the floor and kept on kneeling on him until help arrived.

Alistair, speaking last week after he was notified that he was being awarded the George Medal in the Civilian Gallantry List for their heroic actions said: "It's a big honour for me to be recognised in this way. I feel that the incident will always be part of my life as there isn't a day that goes by in which I don't think about the events that happened.

"When you've been in a life or death situation it does put things into perspective.

"I am grateful to be receiving the award myself as I wouldn't want to put my family in a situation where they were receiving a posthumous medal."

The Royal Navy officer who lost his life in the incident is also to be awarded a posthumous George Medal. Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux's widow Gillian was told by First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope: "In giving his life to save others Ian demonstrated courage of the highest possible order. His selfless actions displayed incredible presence of mind and singular bravery."

He went on to add that Mr Neill and Southampton City Council leader Royston Smith, who received the same award, "showed tremendous bravery."

Mr Neill will receive his George Medal at Buckingham Palace later in the year.