Tomasz Oleszak's parents support Northern Echo knife crime campaign

Patryk Malocha and Kamila Wisniewska arrived in the region around eight years ago, when their son, Tomasz, was six years old.

Tragically, he was fatally wounded during an incident near Whitehills Nature Park, on Springwell Estate, in Gateshead on the evening of Monday, October 3.

Tomasz, a 14-year-old pupil at nearby Cardinal Hume Catholic School, died in hospital early the following morning and a 14-year-old boy has been charged with his murder.

Read more: The Northern Echo calls on the Prime Minister for urgent action on knife crime

Tomasz Oleszak (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo is committed to campaigning to raise awareness of knife crime as sadly the list of young victims continues to grow ever longer.

Mr Malocha  said: “We support the knife crime campaign because if we can help save one life then we will, even to help get people to drop the knife and not carry them then that’s a step forward.

“More needs to be done people need realise taking a knife out is not the way forward it can have devastating consequences which we now are feeling first hand.”

Last week, 14-year-old Gordon Gault died from stab wounds following a disturbance in Elswick, Newcastle, six days earlier.

Gordon Gault (Image: Contributor)

The Northern Echo is supporting Zoey McGill, who lost Jack last year, and Tanya Brown, who lost Connor in 2019, to knife crime.

They were 18.

The Northern Echo is calling on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to meet the families of the victims so he can understand the impact it has and allocate more funding to raise awareness and provide youth workers to intervene with those at risk before more lives are lost.

Read more: Open letter to Prime Minister for action on knife crime

Victims of knife crime, clockwise, from top right: Connor Brown, Chris Cave, Tomasz Oleszak and Jack Woodley (Image: Contributor)

Ms Wisniewska said: “I wish everyone would stop and think about their actions before it is too late, before the anger takes over, before they make the decision to carry the knife and kill someone.

“As a society we need to focus more on our kids, what they’re up to and who with, on the life they live at home because all too often parents don’t know what their kids are up to.”

His parents said Tomasz liked all sports but loved playing football, basketball and rugby.

He enjoyed riding his motorbike and listening to music, and like most teenagers, loved going out with his many friends.

Tomasz had long term plans as well though and wanted to continue to do sports and become an engineer.

His parents say he was a fantastic role model for his little brother, Kuba, who is six, and who looked up to him, copying everything he did.

Tomasz with his brother Kuba (Image: Contributor)

Ms Wisniewska said: “Tomasz had his whole life ahead of him and plans for the future.

“As a family we have lost our caring, kind-hearted, funny Tomasz.

“He showed us what pure love is and that is so important no matter how rich you are, love is priceless.

“We still aren’t living in our home because it is no longer our safe place after what has happened to Tomasz. Nothing is the same without him anymore."

Tomasz was a pupil at Cardinal Hume Catholic School (Image: Contributor)

Tomasz was well-liked and had many friends (Image: Contributor)

Tomasz had been in the UK for around eight years (Image: Contributor)

Mr Malocha said: "The only person keeping us going is his little brother and we know we need to be here for him.

“We can’t see our future at the moment, where we want to be or how we can cope.”

“We never had an easy life in Poland so came to the UK for a better life, which we had, and that life has been taken away from us.”

Read next:

• Powerful video shows County Durham mum singing to her murdered son on death bed
• Aycliffe mum of Jack Woodley is 'heartbroken' after Tomasz Oleszak stabbing
• Footballers pay tribute to Gateshead teenager

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