Taxi fleet equipped with emergency bleed kits following fatal stabbing in Chippenham
- Perry Richardson
- Mar 22
- 2 min read
Taxi drivers across Chippenham and nearby Malmesbury have begun carrying emergency bleed control kits in their vehicles following the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Shayne Hambakachere.
The initiative has seen 60 taxis fitted with the kits, which are designed to help stem severe blood loss in the critical moments before paramedics arrive. The rollout has been supported by the charity RAPAID, with backing from the James Dyson Foundation.
The move represents a coordinated response between local organisations, emergency services and the taxi trade, aimed at improving immediate access to life-saving equipment in public spaces. Taxis, which are widely available and often mobile across towns and rural areas, are being positioned as potential first responders in emergencies involving traumatic bleeding.
RAPAID is a UK-based charity that focuses on public access to emergency trauma kits and training, particularly in response to incidents involving severe bleeding such as stabbings or accidents. The organisation works to install and distribute bleed control kits in communities, alongside raising awareness of how early intervention can significantly improve survival rates.
Local taxis begin carrying life-saving equipment as community response focuses on rapid emergency intervention
The kits provided require no specialist training to use, making them accessible for taxi drivers and members of the public. They typically include items such as trauma dressings and bandages designed to control catastrophic bleeding until professional medical help arrives.
Local MP Sarah Gibson welcomed the initiative, stating: “I am grateful to RAPAID, the James Dyson Foundation and our local taxi drivers for working together to bring these emergency bandage kits to Chippenham. Having lifesaving equipment carried by taxis across the town means help could be close at hand when it matters most.”
Wiltshire Police also backed the scheme, highlighting the potential role of taxi drivers in emergency situations. Inspector Pete Foster said the kits enabled the taxi community “to provide immediate help that could save lives”.
