Heartbroken family of England hockey star student, 19, knifed to death in Nottingham reveal she ‘was studying to be a doctor’ – just like her hero father who was awarded MBE for saving lives of three teens stabbed in gang attack
- Grace O’Malley- Kumar, 19, was killed after being knifed in Nottingham
- Her father is a hero doctor who saved the lives of teenage knife gang victims
The heartbroken family of a star student knifed to death in Nottingham have revealed she was studying to be a doctor – just like her hero father who was awarded an MBE for saving the lives of three teenagers stabbed in a gang attack.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar, 19, was walking home after a celebratory night out in the city to mark the end of exams with fellow student, 19-year-old Barnaby Webber, when they came across a hooded knifeman.
Witnesses claimed a ‘heated argument’ broke out, which ended with the unnamed suspect, 31, stabbing the teenagers to death.
He then went on to knife another victim, school caretaker Ian Coates, steal his van and use it to plough into three people in an horrific rampage.
Grace’s family today released a tribute to MailOnline hailing her as a ‘truly wonderful and beautiful young lady’. They said she was adored by her parents and brother, who is ‘completely heartbroken’ by her death, and was ‘fulfilling her ambition to become a doctor’.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar, 19, was one of two University of Nottingham students who was stabbed to death while walking home after a night out at 4am on Tuesday
Hockey player Grace has been a star for England’s young hockey programme having been selected on a national level for both the under-16s and under-18s squads
It emerged today that Graces’ father is hero doctor Dr Sanjoy Kumar, who was awarded an MBE after he saved the lives of three teenagers stabbed in a gang attack
‘Grace was an adored daughter and sister; she was a truly wonderful and beautiful young lady,’ the family’s statement read.
‘Grace was not just a sister to James but his best friend. he is completely heartbroken. As parents, words cannot explain our complete and utter devastation. She will be so dearly missed.
‘We were so incredibly proud of Grace’s achievements and what a truly lovely person she was. She was resilient and wise beyond her years. Grace was so happy in life fulfilling her ambition of studying to become a doctor whilst playing topflight hockey at university.
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‘She leaves behind devastated extended family and friends.’
It emerged today that Grace father is hero doctor Dr Sanjoy Kumar, who saved the lives of three teenagers stabbed in a gang attack near his surgery near Chingford, east London, in 2009.
Tragically, Grace was following in her father’s footsteps and studying medicine at university.
The details of last night’s tragedy bare grim similarities to her father’s heroism 14 years earlier, as the hero GP stepped in to help a 15, 16 and 17-year-old after they staggered into his surgery covered in stab wounds.
Speaking at the time, Dr Kumar said: ‘We were ready to close our surgery at about 5pm when about eight young Afro-Caribbean guys came in.
‘Three had been stabbed. Two had received stab wounds to the left side of the chest which is really close to where the heart is. The other was stabbed on the left side of his abdomen.
‘It was like a war zone. We had to close the surgery and declare a major incident area. The practice became like a field hospital or an army hospital.
‘We thought the two guys might have collapsed lungs because they were having trouble breathing, and they were really scared and in a state of emotion.
‘We cleared the airway in their chest to create resuscitation. We tried to keep the flow of oxygen going and used an electro cardio gram to monitor their hearts. We examined them for 15 minutes before the police and ambulance arrived.
‘Fate was on their side because if they were stabbed in the open then it could have been fatal.
‘Fortunately we are trained for major incidents like if somebody collapses in our surgery so I’m proud of the way our staff reacted.’
Dr Kumar, who said he was humbled to be awarded the MBE in 2011, has yet to comment on his daughter’s sudden death.
Her mother Sinead is a big supporter of her hockey career, frequently taking to Twitter to heap praise on the teenager. Grace also has a brother named James.
Her devastated family have declined to comment on their daughter’s horrific killing.
Hockey player Grace has been a star for England’s young hockey programme having been selected on a national level for both the under-16s and under-18s squads.
She attended Bancroft’s independent school and was England’s top goal scorer in her age category for the 2018-19 season, newsletters from the school show.
Grace, a high-flying hockey player, is understood to be from north-east London
Grace pictured playing hockey while representing England’s youth teams
Barnaby Webber’s family today described him as a ‘beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to’
Barnaby with his younger brother Charlie. His family today told of their fury at his ‘senseless murder’
At university she continued pursuing the sport, helping the Surbiton ladies’ first team to victories in top UK leagues, and was also described as a talented cricket player.
READ MORE: Third victim of Nottingham attacks is named as school caretaker in his 60s who was stabbed to death ‘as killer stole his van before mowing down three others’
Tributes have poured in for both students – with hockey and cricket clubs leading well-wishers.
England Hockey said they were ‘deeply saddened’ at the news of Grace’s death.
In a short statement on Twitter, they said: ‘Grace was a popular member of the England U16 and U18 squads and our thoughts are with Grace’s family, friends, teammates and the whole hockey community at this time.’
Grace had been a member of Woodford Wells Cricket Club in Essex, with the club describing her as ‘fun, friendly and brilliant’.
In a short statement issued on Twitter, the club said: ‘Devastated to hear the news about former Wells Baby Belles captain, Grace Kumar.
‘A fiercely competitive, talented and dedicated cricketer and hockey player.
‘Our thoughts are with Sanjoy, Sinead and James at this time and everyone who knew Grace – fun, friendly and brilliant.’
Southgate Hockey Club, where Grace played as a member of the under-18s and women’s team, said they were ‘shocked and devastated’ by the news of her death – describing her as a ‘huge talent’.
The club said on Twitter: ‘It is with profound sadness that we have learned of the death of Grace O’Malley Kumar, a huge talent and much loved member of Southgate U18’s & W1’s.
‘We are shocked and devastated by the news, our thoughts and sincere condolences are with Grace’s family, friends and teammates.’
Meanwhile, in a heartbreaking tribute released this morning, Barnaby’s family described the talented cricketer as a ‘beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to’.
Students attend a vigil in Nottingham for the two 19-year-olds and man in his 50s who were killed on Tuesday
A vigil at Nottingham’s St Peter’s Church, in the city centre, was attended by hundreds of people paying their respects to those who died and those injured
Many of the young people at a vigil for those caught up and killed in the attacks were emotional at St Peter’s church in Nottingham on Tuesday evening
Barnaby’s parents David and Emma Webber, and younger brother Charlie, said the murdered student was ‘at the start of his journey into adulthood and was developing into a wonderful young man’.
They said: ‘Complete devastation is not enough to describe our pain and loss at the senseless murder of our son.
‘Barnaby Philip John Webber was a beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to.
‘A talented and passionate cricketer, who was over the moon to have made selection to his university cricket team.
‘At 19 he was just at the start of his journey into adulthood and was developing into a wonderful young man.
‘As parents we are enormously proud of everything he achieved and all the plans he had made.
‘His brother is bereft beyond belief, and at this time we ask for privacy as a family to be allowed time to process and grieve.
‘We will not be making any further statements, particularly in relation to the police investigation.
‘We are so proud to release these photographs, chosen by us as a family, of an amazing son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend.
‘Thank you for your understanding, and to everyone who has supported us in this awful journey so far.’
Barnaby’s family today described him as a ‘beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to’
Officers are seen pinning a man down on a pavement in Nottingham on Tuesday. Three people have been killed in the city, police said
Counter terror police raided two properties in Nottingham with cops saying they are keeping an ‘open mind’ over the motive for the attack
The tributes come as it was revealed the 31-year-old suspect arrested over the rampage previously lived on the street where the teenagers were killed.
Sources say he is a low-level drug dealer who was known to police but did not have a criminal record. He is believed to have lived in the UK for over a decade with neighbours describing him as a ‘very quiet guy’, according to the Telegraph.
There are also unconfirmed reports that the suspect recently converted to Islam and started attending an Islamic centre close to the scene.
He is also described as having a history of mental health issues.
It was previously suggested that the investigation is turning away from terror and instead focusing on the suspect’s mental state.
The unnamed man is accused of knifing the students before also killing a builder, 54, who was on his way to work.
He then took the builder’s van which he smashed into three people. He is currently in custody on suspicion of murder.
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