Mother of murdered teen brings life-saving kits to city

Margaret Oakes, whose son Raymond James Quigley was murdered in January 2023, teamed up with defibrillator placement charity Heart 2 Heart Norfolk to install the kits at venues across the city.

Ms Oakes, from Wymondham, has vowed to raise awareness of knife crime and help put in measures in place which could potentially save lives. 

Bleed-control kits, usually housed in special cabinets, contain equipment such as dressings, tourniquets and scissors. They can be used to give emergency treatment to someone with severe bleeding while waiting for medics to arrive. 

The kits have been introduced at various locations around the country, but there were none available when 18-year-old Mr Quigley was stabbed in broad daylight in Ipswich town centre. 

One of the bleed kit cabinets (Image: Margaret Oakes)

After raising money in partnership with Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS) through various fundraising events, such as skydiving and bingo, the first wave of bleed kits are out in public.

Mrs Oakes said: "We are really pleased to have the cabinets and bleed kits around Norwich, covering a lot of places in the city.

"I hope that these can keep communities safe and save a life if they're needed.

One of the bleed kits outside The Fat Cat and Canary in Thorpe Road (Image: Margaret Oakes)

"I'm pleased people are now taking notice of just how important bleed kits can be in an emergency.

READ MORE: Dog forced to be muzzled after young boy left 'screaming in pain' during park attack

"We're also having a free training and awareness evening on October 28 at The Black Swan Theatre in North Walsham on how to use the kits."

Mrs Oakes is pleased people are taking notice of the bleed kits (Image: Margaret Oakes)

READ MORE: New independent business opening 'much needed' pharmacy on city outskirts

The first kit in Norwich appeared outside VIP Karaoke Club on Prince of Wales Road in September, with seven more placed around the city last week.

These are located at Starbucks on Haymarket, Jarrolds, The Garage performing arts venue on Chapel Field North, 100 Prince of Wales Road, Rileys on Magdalen Street, The Fat Cat and Canary on Thorpe Road and The Brickmakers on Sprowston Road.

The kits contain a selection of products to treat different types of critical bleed injury and now sit alongside defibrillator units previously installed by Heart 2 Heart.

Raymond James Quigley was stabbed in Ipswich on January 17 2023 (Image: Suffolk Constabulary) There are now multiple bleed kits around Norwich (Image: Margaret Oakes)