A little girl brought Strictly judge Shirley Ballas to tears at the Pride of Britain Awards.
The evening, which celebrated incredible people, left the star overcome with emotion as she wrapped her arms around inspirational Elizabeth Soffe, whose bravery and selflessness touched hearts at last night’s awards in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
The eight-year-old suffered severe burns in a cot fire when she was just six months old, however, she has refused to let that stop her, and many wiped away tears as they heard how she has raised £202,000 for the hospital that treated her, writes The Mirror.
On stage to collect her Child of Courage award, Strictly Come Dancing fan Elizabeth looked amazed as dozens of the show’s stars flooded the stage. Hugging her, judge Shirley said: “I had a tear back there.
“I thank you for inspiring me, you are absolutely adorable. You are such an unbelievable spirit and we are all so proud. You are beautiful in every way and with a heart that shines.”
F1 fan Elizabeth, who has had 80 operations since suffering third-degree burns all over her body, was told she had won the Pride of Britain award by F1 hero Daniel Ricciardo.
“It was a big surprise,” she told presenter Carol Vorderman, before getting another surprise – she and her family were invited to Silverstone next year to go in the pit lane.
A young French boy saved by schoolgirl Lucy Montgomery also left the audience in tears Eight-year-old Mathieu beamed as he looked at her and said: “Lucy is my friend and my superhero.”
Lucy, now 15, was on a family holiday in south west France last year when she saw Mathieu in trouble in the river Charente.
The lad was swept away on his paddle board so Lucy swam out despite strong currents and dragged him to the bank. But by then Lucy’s dad Graham, trying to help, had also been swept off his feet. She saved him too – and by then was so exhausted, she had to cling to Mathieu’s board until she luckily drifted to the riverbank.
Asked by Ashley Banjo whether she felt like a hero, Lucy said: “No, I just did what I thought everyone would do.” Earlier she had been surprised by her favourite singer Lewis Capaldi, and was given her Teenager of Courage award by comics Paddy McGuinness and Leigh Francis. Leigh said: “One of my people in the ginger collective – I salute you!”
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