A family is hoping no one has to go through what they have been through as a vital bleed kit is donated to a Canvey pub in memory of a murder victim.

Matt Portwood, 42, was fatally assaulted as he tried to step in and break up a fight in the Iceland car park on Canvey shortly after 1.30am on February 4, 2023.

Jamie-Lee Lewis, 25, stabbed Matt after he and a friend sought to intervene in a fight between two people outside The Haystack pub.

Matt had been in the pub and had seen the fight taking place.

Donation - In memory of Matt PortwoodDonation - In memory of Matt Portwood (Image: Essex Police)

Despite the best efforts of police and paramedics who attended, sadly, he died at the scene.

Later this month, a bleed kit is set to be unveiled at the Haystack Pub in memory of Matt.

Vicky Hawkins, Mr Portwood’s partner and the mother of his two children, hopes the bleed kit will help save a life, if what happened to Matt ever happened to someone else.

She said: "I feel happy and appreciate the fact they have agreed to put this in place at their venue.

"I am hoping to start some fundraising too, to help install more bleed kits across Canvey and hopefully Southend.

"We lost someone close to our hearts and my children lost their father through an act of pure evil.

"It is something we will always carry as a family.

"We learn to carry it but we will never get over the trauma and sadness.

"It is my aim to raise more awareness and to help save a life to ensure it doesn't happen to another family.”

The bleed kit has been donated to the pub by Julie Taylor, and her charity, The Liam Taylor Legacy.

Following the tragic death of her grandson, Liam Taylor, 19, Julie set up a charity in his memory.

The charity raises money to fund bleed control kits to be used to save lives across the county and beyond.

The bleed kits that Julie has handed out to venues across Essex contain gloves, scissors, a foil blanket, a mouthguard for giving CPR, a trauma dressing, a chest seal, a packed bandage and a tourniquet.