Brother of Grace O'Malley-Kumar reveals her death left a 'massive gap'

Brother of 19-year-old Nottingham attack victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar reveals how her death has left a ‘massive gap’ in their family – as memorial cricket match is held in memory of her and fellow teen who died

• Grace, 19, was killed in Nottingham City Centre during a night out in June 2023

The brother of Grace O’Malley-Kumar, a 19-year-old among three people who died in the Nottingham attacks, reveals how the death of his older sister has left a ‘massive gap’ in their family. 

Like a any student, Grace was on a night out in Nottingham City Centre to celebrate her end-of-year medical school exams at university, but her night came to a tragic end when she was brutally stabbed to death on June 13.

James O’Malley-Kumar, 16, described Grace as ‘the best big sister I could have asked for,’ adding that ‘it’s a privilege to say I’m her younger brother’.

Younger brother James told NottinghamshireLIve: It’s been a rough few months but we’re taking everything day-by-day.

Grace Kumar, 19, was one of two University of Nottingham students who was stabbed to death while walking home after a night out at 4am on June 13

Grace pictured with (from left) her father Dr Sanjoy Kumar, her mother Sinead and her brother James

‘She’s left a massive gap in our lives. Our loss is something that will never be filled. She was the best big sister I could have asked for, she was always looking out for me. 

‘Her friends would constantly tell me how she was always talking about me, how proud she was of the things I had achieved. She’d always have my back, making sure that I learned from the mistakes she made in life. It’s a privilege to say I’m her younger brother.’ 

Barnaby Webber, also 19, was also stabbed to death on the same night and 65-year-old school caretaker, Ian Coates was also killed later on in a separate location, in the early hours of the morning. 

A memorial cricket match was held in the memory of Grace and Barnaby and organised by students earlier today, with the charity event receiving overwhelming support, selling around 900 tickets. 

Posting on the GoFundMe page for the event, James said: ‘As a family, we were all 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 topflight hockey at the University of Nottingham.

‘She leaves behind devastated and heartbroken extended family and friends but we all feel compelled that something good must come from the loss of Grace’s life.’ 

Economics student, Kabelan Mangaleswaran,19, who took part in the event, was Grace’s childhood friend and later met Barnaby through the university cricket team. 

Grace was studying to become a doctor whilst playing topflight hockey at the University of Nottingham

The coffin of Grace O’Malley-Kumar was carried by her brother James (pictured: front-left) from her funeral at Westminster Cathedral

Barnaby Webber, a gifted cricketer who was in his first year of university, was one of two students killed in the attack

Mr Coates worked at Huntington Academy, a primary school in the city, and was described this morning as a ‘beloved and respected’ member of staff

Mr Mangaleswaran said: ‘Grace was the most loving, selfless person you would ever meet,’

He added: ‘But also she had that very bubbly and fun side to her. Any time she would walk into a room she could very easily light up the mood with a lovely smile or with some of her corny jokes.’ 

The economics student described Barnaby as a ‘very fun and very popular character in the cricket club and amongst our friends’.

He added: ‘He was also someone who could very easily light up the room and crack a joke and change the vibe and the atmosphere of the room very quickly.’

Proceeds from the fundraiser, which raised £11,000 in less than 24 hours, and has so far totaled £41,322, will be going towards an official ‘Grace O’Malley-Kumar Foundation’, which ‘will be created and donations will be used to further all that Grace supported and felt she would like to help with’. 

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