Paramedics performed open heart surgery on Kemar Duhaney but he died later in hospital. Picture: Facebook.

Youth workers have been left “stunned” by the killing of a Tottenham man who was stabbed in the heart.

Kemar Duhaney, 21, of Bruce Grove, was found collapsed in the street with a single stab wound in Buxhall Crescent, Hackney Wick, at 11.47am last Wednesday.

Paramedics performed open heart surgery at the scene but were unable to save Mr Duhaney, known to friends as Blingy, who died in hospital at 5.30pm the same day.

Police have charged Jamaican-born Damien Douglas, 23, of Ballance Road, Hackney, with murder.

Douglas entered no plea when he appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday, and was remanded in custody until October 12.

Douglas allegedly attacked Mr Duhaney, also a Jamaican native, after finding him bare-chested in his former partner’s bedroom, the court heard.

The row is said to have spilled out onto the street where Mr Duhaney was later found.

Youth workers at a community project where Mr Duhaney attended as a teenager spoke of their shock and sadness at his death.

Chris Hall, 54, founder of the London Boxing Academy Community Project (LBACP), told the Journal: “No-one that I know has got a bad word to say about him, we are all truly shocked.

“I was in a parents’ meeting when I found out and had to leave the room because I was in tears. Everybody who knows Kemar will be stunned.”

It is believed Mr Duhaney, an only child, arrived in the UK from Jamaica aged around 13 and settled with his mother in the Finsbury Park area.

He was poorly educated and was introduced to the LBACP through Haringey’s Pupil Referral Unit.

Staff at the project, which provides educational support to children rejected by mainstream schools, helped improve Mr Duhaney’s literacy and introduced him to boxing, which he took a keen interest in.

Mr Hall added: “We took him onboard and he made a momentous effort to improve himself.”

Mr Duhaney regularly used the gym at Tottenham Community Sports Centre in High Road.

Youth worker Richard Ross, 28, who was Mr Duhaney’s personal mentor during his time at LBACP, said: “He was very image-conscious.

“He always had to be pristine – his trainers always had to be the right way and his laces had to be symmetrical. He always had to smell nice.

“He went by the name Blingy because he was always shining and glistening.

“I don’t think it’s really hit home – it’s like a dream really. I think when I see his mum it will hit home.

“He was really close to his mum, she was his rock.”

An inquest into Mr Duhaney’s death was opened on Monday and adjourned to a later date at Poplar Coroners’ Court.