A Royal Marine has received the George Cross for throwing himself on an exploding grenade.

Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher, 24, from Solihull, Birmingham, said he believed he was going to die at least 12 times during his service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Croucher initially jumped on his front when he triggered a tripwire during a mission in Helmand province.

He said: "But I knew I would definitely die, I had to flip on to my back."

Mr Croucher, a bachelor whose father and grandparents were in the armed forces, added: "Of course I would do this again - I believed I was going to die on many other occasions, probably at least 12."

Mr Croucher has served twice in Iraq and once in Afghanistan.

Remembering the incident in February this year, he told how he only had a split second to warn his comrades.

He said: "I felt the trip wire hit my shins. You know immediately what that means. All I could do in the moment was shout out 'grenade' before diving on top of it."

His bag was crammed with equipment which cushioned the explosion.

He added: "It was incredible. I escaped with only a nosebleed and a headache.

"Afterwards, as I was receiving treatment, I remembered an episode of (TV series) Soldier Soldier when I was a teenager.

"One of them had to do exactly the same as what I had done. I don't think they came off as well as I did."

He described his award, which ranks alongside the Victoria Cross as the highest decoration for acts of gallantry, as the most "overwhelming honour".

His parents Margaret, 55, and Richard, 57, said they had no idea what had happened until their son returned to the UK in April.

Mrs Croucher, a teacher from Birmingham, said she received three text messages while he was away, one of which read: "Being put forward for a citation, might meet the Queen."

She said: "Obviously I was very intrigued but we didn't get the full story until he got back and we read about it in the papers. I am obviously immensely proud but it was a typical act from him. It was not the first time he had put his life at risk."

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