South African/British Hero Awarded France’s Highest Honour

A grandfather who was raised in South Africa was awarded France’s highest honour yesterday, 24 August, when French President Francois Hollande presented him and three other men with the Legion d’Honneur in recognition of their bravery on Friday evening when they overcame a heavily armed man on a train between Amsterdam and Paris.

Sixty-two year old Christopher Norman, who holds a British passport, was reportedly brought up in South Africa after being born in Uganda. According to the Guardian newspaper, he attended the University of Reading in the UK before moving to the South of France 25 years ago, where he now operates as an IT consultant to various companies in Africa.

Chris – together with US citizens Spencer Stone (23) Antony Sadler (23) and Alek Skarlatos (22) – prevented what could have been a tragedy. Time Magazine said today that the men thwarted “a terrorist attack that could have ended with dozens of dead and injured.”

Chris told reporters that after getting over his initial fear, he realised “I would rather die being active trying to get him down than simply sit in the corner and be shot.”

At least four people were injured when the 25-year-old gunman from Morocca opened fire on the train as it passed near the French town of Arras.

The gunman had at least three weapons including a Kalashnikov (AK-47) with nine magazines, a handgun and a box cutter. The first man to bravely accost the gunman was identified yesterday as French-American Mark Moogalian (51) who was shot trying to remove the man’s weapon. He will also receive the French honour once he is discharged from hospital.

Two of the Americans were off-duty servicemen and one of them, Stone (who was injured himself), is also credited with saving Moogalian’s life by putting pressure on the artery in his neck to stop the bleeding.

After the courageous passengers had overcome the suspect (and Chris had tied him up with a tie and scarf), the train made an emergency stop at Arras and the suspect was arrested by police.

After receiving the honour yesterday, Chris – a grandfather of three – told reporters he was “incredibly honoured” and his advice to others would be “if it does happen to you, be aware that there is a possibility to act. Don’t act completely rashly but, when the opportunity arises, for God’s sake jump in there.”

He said “I always wondered how I would react. Now I know and I don’t want to do it again. It was quite an amazing experience, I don’t want to relive it.”

French President Hollande said yesterday at the ceremony at the Élysée Palace: “”By their courage, they saved lives. They gave us an example of what is possible to do in these kinds of situations.”

Watch Euronews report: Train Heroes to be honoured for their bravery

Euronews Video: Passengers speak out about taking on France train gunman

 Watch Channel 4 Video: Train Heroes Honoured in France