An online fundraising campaign to repatriate the body of tragic stabbing victim Karolina Chwiluk to her native Poland has gone past half-way.
The 20-year-old architect student died in a triple stabbing incident in east London at a flat she was visiting on a council estate in Dora Street in Limehouse late on Thursday night.
Two other people in the flat, a woman of 42 and man of 24, were also stabbed and were taken to hospital, though later released after treatment.
But Karolina died in the flat 40 minutes after air-ambulance paramedics from the Royal London Hospital and police officers arrived at 11pm.
Now friends want Karolina returned to her homeland and family and are appealing online for £3,000 to cover transport and funeral costs.
The funding page on the Go Fund Me website reached £1,670 by lunchtime today.
Appeal organizer Junius Sappho, paying tribute on the website, said: “Karolina tragically passed away on Thursday, after being stabbed to death. She was just 20 and was studying interior architecture.
“This has come as a monumental shock to all who knew Karolina, especially her family.
“Together with my classmates, I have set up this page to help raise funds towards bringing Karolina home from the United Kingdom and giving her the send-off she deserves.
“We want to ease the pressure and lift a huge weight off the family’s shoulders to give them precious time to grieve without having to worry about getting their daughter back home along with funeral costs.”
Repatriation alone costs at least £2,000, Junius estimates.
“No amount of money will bring a person back to life,” the tribute continues. “But giving as much as you can will support Karolina’s family, give them comfort and allow them to bring Karolina home to Poland to say their goodbyes.”
A man of 23 appeared at Thames magistrates court in east London today charged with Karolina’s murder and two counts of GBH.
Karolina was visiting friends at a flat where the man was living. All those involved in the incident were known to each other, Scotland Yard said.
Neighbours have also been in shock at the stabbing in the first-floor Tower Hamlets council flat in the quiet cul-de-sac next to the Regent’s Canal.
Father-of-two Ahmed Musek, 36, a restaurant worker living next door, arrived home to find a police cordon.
“They stopped me going in for over an hour,” he told the East London Advertiser the next morning. “We are all worried after what happened and are all shocked at the stabbing—this is a quiet place.”
Police were appealing for anyone with information about the Dora Street stabbing last Thursday night to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3734, or anonymously Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, or Crimestoppers online.
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