Mourners gather for funeral of Nottingham attack victim Ian Coates as family of student killed in rampage pay tribute
Mourners gathered today to say goodbye to Ian Coates, the victim of the Nottingham attack a month after he was stabbed to death.
The 65-year-old grandpa died just blocks away from teenagers Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber when the city was hit by the horrific sunrise attacks.
6
6
6
Ian’s heartbroken family and friends have now gathered to say a final goodbye to the grandfather who “shook everyone’s world”.
Dozens left flowers for the football lover – including fellow victim Grace’s family.
The 19-year-old’s family wrote: “For Ian and the Coates family. Sending you all our thoughts and prayers.”
“From Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s family.”
Other floral tributes include the words “Gramps,” “Grandpa,” and “Dad.”
They were all white and red – the colors of the Nottingham Forest.
Ian’s grieving loved ones gathered in the Serenity Chapel at Bramcote Crematorium today.
Ian worked at LEAD Academy Trust and Huntingdon Academy.
After his death, Headmaster Ross Middleton called him “a well-loved colleague who always worked for the well-being of our children”.
Today, the LEAD also left heartbreaking tributes.
Ian is believed to have been killed around 5am on June 13 – about an hour after the students.
Police said they believe he was killed because of his van, which was then used to mow down three people.
His funeral takes place just days after the cause of death of the victims was announced.
The two 19-year-old students died from stab wounds in their chests and abdomen.
Ian died alone of stab wounds to the chest, according to the Nottingham Coroners’ Court.
Chief Medical Examiner Mairin Casey said at the hearing: “When a person dies from unnatural causes, as happened in this case, there is always an inquest.”
“As the deaths of these three individuals occurred in close proximity to the same day and are the result of a chain of events linked to a single individual, it is right that these investigations should be opened at the same time.”
Valdo Amissao Mendes Calocane has been charged with triple murder.
He is also charged with attempted murder after three people were injured, one critically, when they were hit by a van.
6
6
6