Mum of murdered man hands out bleed kits in town

The mother of an 18-year-old man who was stabbed to death handed out life-saving equipment to businesses.

Raymond James Quigley, known as James, from Norfolk, was murdered in front of shoppers in Westgate Street, in Ipswich town centre, in January 2023.

His mother, Margaret Oakes, helped to distribute 35 bleed kits and four defibrillators to businesses in Lowestoft, Suffolk, on Tuesday.

She told the BBC: "They are very important because I don't want anyone else going through trauma like I did."

Her son, who lived in Wymondham, died from stab wounds to his torso, back and chest during the attack.

Alfie Hammett and Joshua Howell, both 19, were jailed for life with minimum tariffs of 24 and 20 years respectively for Mr Quigley's murder.

The equipment, worth £10,000, was dished out to businesses after local councillors supplied the funding.

"It's absolutely amazing the amount of lives and limbs that are going to be saved through this," Ms Oakes said.

She explained the bleed kits could also be used for those injured in car crashes, falls or other medical emergencies.

"They're important because they give people those vital minutes so emergency services can reach them," Ms Oakes added.

"If I could give any amount of money to have James back, I would."

The funding also paid for 32 people to be trained to use the equipment.

One of them was Lowestoft hairdresser Laura Bull, who said: "It's definitely given me the confidence and the knowledge to be able to step into action when needed.

"If someone can step into action from the community, then to me that's really important."

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