PRESS ASSOCIATION -- A man who lost his son in this summer's riots is to receive an award for the compassion, dignity and calm he showed in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Tariq Jahan's son Haroon, 21, was one of three young men mown down by a car while trying to protect their community from a mob of looters when the disturbances hit Birmingham.
Mr Jahan had rushed to help the victims - who had been sent flying high into the air by the car - without knowing that his son was among them. He had already tried to revive brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and 31-year-old Abdul Musavir, when he turned over the third victim. Horrified, he saw it was his own son and he battled to save Haroon's life as he lay dying on the pavement. He gave him CPR, but sadly it was not enough to save him.
Just hours after his son's death, van driver Mr Jahan took a stand outside his home and made a heartfelt plea for peace as police feared revenge attacks would spark a tide of racial violence.
He urged: "Blacks, Asians, whites - we all live in the same community. Why are we doing this? Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise calm down and go home ... please."
Mr Jahan, 45, is to receive a "special recognition" award at the Daily Mirror's Pride of Britain Awards in London. The cermeony is to be shown on ITV1 on Wednesday at 8pm.
Organisers of the ceremony said: "Grieving father Tariq Jahan came to personify the indomitable spirit of the vast majority of the British people when he made a remarkable plea for calm after his son was killed in the violence. Police said his intervention helped prevent a tinderbox situation igniting into yet more violence.
"At a time when many despaired for Britain itself, Tariq proved why the killers, looters and thugs will never win."
The event at the Grosvenor House in Park Lane, hosted by Carol Vorderman, will feature stories of heroism and More than 100 stars from the Prince of Wales to Gary Barlow, Cheryl Cole, Ant and Dec, Lord Sugar, Dermot O'Leary, Tulisa Contostavlos, Elle Macpherson and Gemma Arterton will unite to honour the award winners.