Star in Iraq to give bravery award

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The Hollywood star was so impressed by Michelle Cunningham's courage that he agreed to take the risk of travelling to Basra air base himself to meet her and her unit.

Staff Sgt Cunningham, 32, from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, has won the award after single-handedly putting out a fire at an explosives factory in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, last year.

Firefighters had decided it was too dangerous to go inside the burning building and one man had already died when Staff Sgt Cunningham decided to take action.

She marched into the building with two fire extinguishers, went to the heart of the blaze and managed to control the flames and secure hundreds of explosives.

The Army decided her courage merited a nomination for a Pride of Britain Award in recognition of her "displaying complete disregard for her personal safety" in tackling the blaze.

McGregor, 36, said he had been amazed by the officer's courage and that he would never have had the guts to do her job.

He said: "Most people, and I'm one of them, would run a million miles from a bomb, it's like, 'Get me away from here', but Michelle actually walks towards them and makes them safe. Amazing.

"When I was told about her, and was asked to go and present the award to her in Iraq, I said yes because I really wanted to meet her and show my support."

The actor was flown in a military VC10 jet with troops from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, to Qatar and then transferred to a Hercules transporter for the night flight to Basra.