One of the victims who died in yesterday's horrific attack in Nottingham city centre comes from a prominent Irish medical family that goes back three generations.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar, 19, was stabbed to death alongside her friend Barnaby Webber during a deadly rampage in Nottingham. Grace was following in the family tradition by studying medicine at the University of Nottingham.
Her family have said they "cannot explain" their "complete and utter devastation" at her death and said she was "so happy in life fulfilling her ambition of studying to become a doctor".
READ MORE: Three people killed as Nottingham goes into lockdown as man, 31, arrested
The medical student was also a talented sportswoman who played international hockey for both the under-16 and under-18 England hockey teams.
Grace’s Irish mother Sinead O’Malley was educated at Alexandra College in Dublin and now works as a consultant anaesthetist in London, the Irish Times reports.
Her grandfather is Professor Kevin O'Malley, a former registrar and chief executive of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Her mother’s great-aunt, Sarah (or Sal) Joyce O’Malley, was a pioneer of anaesthesiology in Ireland in the early to mid 1900s and the University of Galway still awards The O’Malley Gold Medal, named after her, to an outstanding undergraduate every year.
Grace’s father Dr Sanjoy Kumar is also a doctor who famously saved the lives of three teenagers who were stabbed in a gang attack near his surgery in 2009.
In a statement, Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s family described her as a “truly wonderful and beautiful young lady”.
They said: “Grace was an adored daughter and sister; she was a truly wonderful and beautiful young lady.
“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 top-flight hockey at university.
“She leaves behind devastated extended family and friends.”
Nottinghamshire Police said a 31-year-old man has been tasered and arrested on suspicion of murder after three people were killed.
The two University of Nottingham students were found dead at Ilkeston Road shortly after 4am, and a man was also found dead on Magdala Road.
Grace and history student Barnaby Webber, also 19, were found fatally knifed in the street by police at 4.04am on Tuesday.
The third victim, Ian Coates, 65, who worked as a caretaker, was found fatally knifed in Magdala Road before the suspect is believed to have stolen his van and driven at pedestrians in Milton Street.
Three people were injured in the van attack, with one in a critical condition in hospital and two suffering minor injuries.
According to reports, the suspect was a west African migrant who had settled in the UK legally and was known to police.
It is understood the man has a mental health history.
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