A leading surgeon has spoken of having to physically remove knives embedded in young men lying on her operating table as London’s violent crime epidemic worsens.
Cleo Kenington spoke out as it was revealed St George’s Hospital’s major trauma unit in Tooting treated 511 stab victims last year – nearly double the number in 2022.
Mrs Kenington, a NHS consultant in emergency general surgery, 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, especially when the knife pierces multiple organs such as the heart and the guts.
“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 as their injuries are so severe.”
On Wednesday, St George’s released images of a shocking cache of 87 weapons left at its site – including machetes, Zombie knives, knuckledusters – in just six months.
They were surrendered after it became Britain’s first hospital to introduce knife amnesty bins.
Boxes are situated near to St George’s A&E department. Experts said the contents dumped so far are “terrifying”.
One patient – a male in his 20s – described how he was stabbed with a 15-inch Rambo knife while onlookers filmed on their phones in south London last month.
“I didn’t even know I’d been stabbed at first,” he said.
“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.”
There were 4,063 stabbings in the year to February 2025 across London, a two per cent rise on the previous 12 months – an average of 11 a day.
Of 2025’s young victims, Kelyan Bokassa, 14, was fatally knifed around 27 times as he travelled home on a bus in Woolwich on January 7 before Lathaniel Burrell, 16, died shortly after being shot in Paradise Road, Stockwell last week Tuesday.
Last year, 105 homicides were recorded by the Met.
There were 12 teenage victims in 2024, compared to 21 in 2023 and 14 in 2022, down from 30 in 2021.
Jacqueline Totterdell, chief executive of St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, which is working with Wandsworth Council and the area’s Community Safety Partnership, said: “Keeping staff and patients safe is our top priority – that’s why we’re working with partners to keep weapons out of our hospitals.”
The group said that following the amnesty’s success, aided by knife crime charity Word 4 Weapons, bins will be installed at St Helier and Epsom hospitals.
Sandra Campbell, Words 4 Weapons’ chief executive, added: “These images may shock people but they are even more terrifying up close – and have the potential to end someone’s life or cause serious damage if they were still on the streets.”
Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said: “Tackling violence and making our streets safer is at the heart of this Government’s Plan for Change and we cannot do this alone.
“I’ve seen first-hand how hospitals like St George’s can help – they are so often at the centre of tragic incidences of knife crime.
“Last month, we announced £9.4 million of funding for the London Violence Reduction Unit which will enable them to continue funding youth workers in major trauma centres across London to help young people impacted by knife crime.”
Metropolitan Police Commander Hayley Sewart added: “Knife crime has a hugely damaging impact on victims, families and communities.
“The Met remains focussed on tackling knife crime and violence in London by carrying out proactive operations including high visibility patrols in hotspot areas, targeting violent offenders, and reducing the supply and access to weapons.
“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 and the NHS to divert individuals and young people from knife crime, as we cannot tackle this alone.”
Scotland Yard urged anyone who is worried about their safety to contact them via 101, 999 in an emergency or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
