Emergency Blood Bike Named in Tribute to Nottingham Attacks Victim

A vital motorbike, used for transporting emergency blood, has been named in tribute to one of the individuals who died in the Nottingham attacks. The family of Ian Coates, a school caretaker, was present pitchside at the City Ground for the unveiling of the “blood bike” during Saturday’s match between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. This marks the second instance where Nottinghamshire Blood Bikes has honored one of the three people fatally stabbed in the city in June 2023. The first such tribute was presented to Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s family in May, following a charity ride held in her memory. There are future plans to present another to Barnaby Webber’s family. Mr. Webber and Ms. O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and Mr. Coates, 65, were killed by Valdo Calocane on 13 June 2023. Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, received a hospital order for manslaughter in January, based on diminished responsibility. In a social media post, the blood bikes charity expressed that the attacks had left Nottinghamshire “heartbroken.” It stated: “By naming our bike after Ian his legacy can live on as we serve the people of Nottinghamshire on Ian’s bike, and deliver life-saving blood for the NHS.” In May, over 100 motorcyclists and motorists participated in a memorial ride from Essex to Newark, supporting the Grace O’Malley-Kumar Foundation. At the conclusion of the ride, her family was presented with a new bike named in her honour.