Norfolk mum whose son was stabbed to death in Ipswich installs bleed kit in his hometown
Margaret Oakes will be installing the first one in the Robert Kett pub in Wymondham
Last updated 23rd Oct 2023
A Norfolk mum whose son died after being stabbed to death in Suffolk is determined to use her son's tragedy to "help people" by introducing bleed control kits.
Margaret Oakes will be installing the first kit in the Robert Kett pub in Wymondham.
It follows the death of her son Raymond James Quigley - known as James - who was stabbed to death in Ipswich, at the start of the year.
"I think he would be proud of us"
Mum Margaret has since been working with the Norfolk Accident Rescue Service after the death of her son - in raising money to help introduce the bleed control kit.
The packs - which include pressure dressings, gauze bandages and tourniquets - are designed to prevent stab-related deaths in the same way public defibrillators have been introduced to help reduce heart attack-related deaths.
Margaret has been telling us about how they decided on where the first kit would go:
"Wymondham is where James lived, it's his home town. That's where he would go with friends sometimes. To be able to save somebody's life in his memory, I think he would be proud of us, as we'd be proud to do that for him.
"It feels nice to dedicate something in my son's memory.
"But it's also quite upsetting when you think about why we're doing this. It hits home and it's devastating."
"After these kits are put out, they are needed to continue their work"
Margaret adds this is the start of wider work:
"We definitely want to see more kits in Norfolk, and will have them.
"Anyone who wants one - we'd never say no, but we concentrating on our side of East Anglia, because there just aren't many around here.
With cabinets coming in at ÂŁ420 each and the kits at ÂŁ102, Mrs Oakes has set up a GoFundMe with the help of Norfolk Accident Rescue Service, to raise money to fund their installation.
She continues:
"Half of our money will also go to Norfolk Accident and Rescue Service (NARS), for saving a life in James' name. They are not funded by the Government and money like this is really important. After these kits are putting out, they are needed to continue their work with patients, so it's really important."
"They are bright red bags that are full of specialist equipment"
Margaret told us more about Bleed Control Kits: "These kits can stop and prevent a bleed. They can help stop lung collapses, if somebody has had a car accident - for example.
"They are bright red bags that are full of specialist equipment, such as dressings, scissors, gauzes, tourniquets and PPE, which stem extreme blood loss, until paramedics arrive on a scene."
More details can be seen below:
Two 18 year old's accused of James' murder are to go on trial in December.