‘They often say ‘I don’t want to die’’: Hospital reveals harrowing tales of knife crime after opening weapons bin

The number of people treated for knife injuries at a hospital’s emergency department have almost doubled since 2022, officials have warned.

Last year, more than 500 people with injuries from knives and other sharp objects were treated at St George’s Hospital in Blackshaw Road Tooting – almost double that in 2022, when 267 incidents were recorded.  

Cleo Kenington, consultant in emergency general surgery and major trauma at St George’s, said: “I’ve had to physically remove knives from patients on the operating table to stop them bleeding to death – it can take many teams of surgeons working on them.

“These patients are young, vulnerable and scared – they have their whole lives ahead of them and they often say ‘I don’t want to die’. 

“I’ve seen more and more patients being admitted with stab wounds. Once they arrive at St George’s we provide them with the best possible care and most survive, but tragically many patients die before they can reach hospital.”

The figures have been released after St George’s became the UK’s first hospital to install a secure bin to anonymously dispose of knives and other weapons. 

The bin – provided by knife crime charity Word 4 Weapons – opened in April 2024, and by December that year 87 weapons were discovered, including machetes, Zombie-style knives and knuckledusters.

A young man from South London, aged in his 20s, was recently admitted to St George’s after being stabbed with a 15-inch ‘Rambo’-style knife, causing a kidney injury and internal bleeding.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: “I didn’t even know I’d been stabbed at first. 

“I felt a sharp pain, then it was hard to breathe and I could feel a wetness – that’s when I looked down and saw the knife sticking out of me. I was losing blood and was trying to get away from there – people were standing around filming on their phones.

“Coming into hospital is a blur, I don’t really remember it.

“I had an operation that saved my life, but it’s not just the wounds that need to heal – I’m still trying to process what happened and deal with the trauma.”  

St George’s partnered with Wandsworth council and Wandsworth Community Safety Partnership to open the knife bin.

Anyone carrying a knife is urged to dispose of it, after wrapping it in several layers of cardboard or paper and securing it with sticky tape to cover the blade.  

While it is an offence to carry a knife in a public place, it is considered reasonable to carry it directly to a knife bin if it is wrapped in this way.  

Commander Hayley Sewart, responsible for knife crime at the Met, said: “Prevention is key. We have made a significant contribution to the rapid review of online knife sales as well as working closely with the London Violence Reduction Unit (LVRU) and the NHS to divert individuals and young people from knife crime, as we cannot tackle this alone.”

Last month, the government announced £9.4million of funding for the LVRU to support youth workers in major trauma centres across London to help young people impacted by knife crime.

Rosena Allin-Khan, MP for Tooting, said: “Far too often, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of violent crime on our communities. 

“Both as the local MP and an emergency doctor, I know just how important it is to use all available means to ensure that no more lives are senselessly lost to knife crime. 

“This is an excellent initiative by St George’s and, through the number of weapons recovered, we are already seeing the progress that bins like these are making in taking even more knives off our streets.” 

The Met urge anyone who is worried about their safety or the safety of others to contact the police on 101 or call 999 in an emergency. 

If you feel unable to talk to the police, you could contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visiting Fearless: Anonymous Reporting for a Safer Community | Crimestoppers. You don’t have to give your name and your call will not be traced. 

Pictured top: The bin opened in April 2024, and by December that year 87 weapons were discovered, including machetes, Zombie knives and knuckledusters (Picture: St George’s Hospital)