A talented hockey player who was one of three people fatally stabbed in Nottingham was reportedly the daughter of a heroic east London GP who saved teenage victims in a knife attack.
Tributes have been pouring in since it was revealed that Nottingham student Grace Kumar, 19, was killed at 4am yesterday (June 13).
The hockey star played at London’s Southgate Hockey team as well as for the Old Loughtonians in Chigwell and England U18.
Before studying in Nottingham, she attended Bancroft's School in Redbridge.
The school said: “She left Bancroft’s only last year and was a hugely important part of our community.
“An immensely gifted and dedicated scholar and sportswoman, she was hugely loved and greatly respected and admired by all.
“She was outstanding in every respect and will be missed terribly.”
She was also a gifted cricketer, with Woodford Wells Cricket Club. The club called the teenager “fun, friendly and brilliant”.
Her father is thought to be Dr Sanjoy Kumar, a GP who saved three teenage victims of a knife attack in 2009.
It was reported that the GP was working a typical day at the Larkshall Medical Centre in Chingford on February 11, 2009, when a group of panic-stricken teens went to his surgery carrying their friends and pleading for help.
Two of the teens, aged 15 and 16, had been knifed in the chest, while a 17-year-old was stabbed in the abdomen following an incident in nearby Kings Road.
At the time, Dr Kumar described the situation “like a war zone” as they quickly reacted in saving their lives.
Dr Kumar has not publicly spoken about the death of his daughter, one of two students who were fatally stabbed in Ikeston Road, a student area of Nottingham, yesterday.
Barnaby Webber has been named as the other 19-year-old student, while primary school caretaker Ian Coates, in his 60s, was found a bit further away with stab wounds in Magdala Road.
What happened in Nottingham?
Police have said it is believed the attacker then stole the older man’s van before driving it at pedestrians in Milton Street.
The vehicle was stopped by officers in Maple Street before the suspect was tasered and detained, Chief Constable Kate Meynell said.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Three people were injured in the van attack, with one in a critical condition in hospital and two suffering minor injuries.
Ms Meynell told reporters the force were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incidents and no further arrests had been made.
The police chief said the motive behind the attack was yet to be determined, but officers were keeping an “open mind” and working with counter-terror police.
Ms Meynell said the families of all the victims had been informed and were being supported by specially-trained officers.
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