Victoria Cross winner Johnson Beharry saved seven from blazing residence
- Beharry left the military in 2004 after his heroism left him with head injuries
An Iraq War veteran who received the Victoria Cross from Queen Elizabeth II has become a hero once again after saving his neighbours from their burning home.
Sergeant-Major Johnson Beharry revealed how he ran through flames to save the family – including four children, their grandmother, and two more adults.
The 45-year-old told The Sun how he fought flames to an upstairs landing to reach the children and grandmother before helping the adults’ downstairs.
After bringing the family to safety, Beharry briefed the fire crew, helped to identify members of the rescued family who needed help with smoke inhalation and even grabbed car keys from the house to move vehicles away.
Speaking to The Sun for the first time since the incident in 2021, Beharry said: ‘I’m not on the battlefield anymore but I feel like I am in the battlefield in general life. You never switch off, whether you are in Iraq or in a quiet housing estate in the UK. You are always a soldier.’
Sergeant-Major Johnson Beharry (pictured) told how he he ran through flames to save a family – including four children, their grandmother, and two more adults
Johnson Beharry received the Victoria Cross from Queen Elizabeth in April 2005 for his heroic efforts
Father-of-three Beharry left the military in 2004, after two acts of heroism left him with serious head injuries.
Beharry was the first recipient of the Victoria Cross in almost 50 years, when he was awarded the medal in 2005.
He was awarded the medal, the highest military decoration in the British armed forces, aged 25 after saving the lives of 30 members of his unit.
In the first incident, Beharry was driving a Warrior armoured vehicle when it was hit by multiple grenades.
He was forced to open his hatch to steer the vehicle and his fellow injured soldiers to safety, despite exposing his own face and head to attack.
The 45-year-old told The Sun how he fought flames to an upstairs landing to reach the children and grandmother before helping the adults’ downstairs
Father-of-three Beharry left the military in 2004, after two acts of heroism left him with serious head injuries
His second act of heroism involved driving another Warrior vehicle away from an ambush which left other members of his crew incapacitated.
Beharry drove the Warrior to safety despite being hit by shrapnel and obtaining life-threatening injuries.
The Grenada-born Brit has since launched his own charity aimed at reducing gang crime- the JBVC Foundation.
The charity, named in reference to his Victoria Cross, aims to educate children about knife crime and curb violence among young people.
Beharry said: ‘The Army has taught me about discipline and it sets you on a good path. Being a soldier will be part of me for ever. That is why I will never stop helping people.’
