Inquiry hears Nottingham attack victim could have been saved
The inquiry into the Nottingham attacks has heard that Barnaby Webber's death was potentially preventable if he had received faster medical treatment.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks has heard that one of the victims, 19-year-old Barnaby Webber, could have survived if he had received faster medical treatment. A panel of medical experts concluded that there was a small chance, less than 50%, that he would have survived his stab wounds had blood products been given at the scene and he had been treated more quickly. The inquiry also heard that the other two victims, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates, would not have survived their catastrophic injuries.
The findings were delivered during closing submissions at the inquiry, which has been examining the events leading up to the attacks in June 2023, when Valdo Calocane, a man with paranoid schizophrenia, killed Barnaby, Grace and Ian, and injured three other people. The families have been present throughout the hearings and were visibly distressed as the evidence was read out. Barnaby's mother, Emma Webber, said it was "devastating" to learn that her son could have been saved. She described the inquiry as revealing a "total collapse of responsibility and accountability."
The inquiry also heard new evidence, including notes written by Calocane about bomb calculations and research into large venues, as well as the Manchester Arena attack. The closing submissions are expected to continue, with representatives for Calocane's family and the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust due to speak tomorrow. The final report is not expected until May 2027.
Separately, the families have also raised concerns about police failing to tell them about a man with serious mental health issues who was fixated on the case and had tried to contact them. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is assessing a complaint about this.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One | Channel 4 | GB News |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical experts concluded that Barnaby Webber's death was potentially preventable. | · | ||
| Barnaby Webber had less than a 50% chance of survival even with earlier and more rapid treatment. | · | · | |
| New evidence emerged including notes by Valdo Calocane about bomb calculations and research on large venues. | · | · | |
| Nottinghamshire police referred the complaint to the IOPC, which is assessing it. | · | · | |
| Police failed to tell the families about a violent mentally ill offender who was fixated on the case and had attempted to meet them. | · | · | |
| The government issued leaflets to migrants telling them how to avoid committing sexual offences. | · | · | |
| The man escaped from a mental health hospital and went to Grace's father's GP surgery in London. | · | · | |
| The other two victims, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates, would not have survived their injuries. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC One West reported the inquiry's finding that Barnaby Webber's death was potentially preventable, and also covered a separate police complaint about the families not being told about a fixated man. The tone was factual and focused on the families' reactions.
- “The death of one of the students killed in the Nottingham attacks was potentially preventable.”
- “The truth out, the inquiry's shown that actually there's an awful lot more to this tragedy than has been painted by the authorities.”
Channel 4 focused on the emotional impact of the inquiry's findings on the families, with detailed reporting on the medical panel's conclusion and the timeline of the attacks. It also highlighted new evidence about Calocane's notes and the ongoing nature of the inquiry.
- “It was devastating, devastating to learn that survivability reports carried out on Barney, Grace and Ian that there was a chance that Barney could have been saved.”
- “We hope that this inquiry is a watershed moment.”
Broadcast Timeline
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