A VET was found dead in a hotel bathtub after taking her own life over fears a gang was coming to harm her, an inquest heard.
Ewelina Sasak, 30, was discovered with injuries so severe police at first believed she had been violently attacked.
SWNSEwelina was found with horror injuries[/caption]
But officers and a pathologist later determined there were no suspicious circumstances.
St Pancras Coroner’s Court heard how in the days leading up to her death, Ewelina had become convinced a group of ten people were following her and wanted to harm her.
She was so terrified she fled her home in Blackpool and checked into the four star Staunton Hotel in London.
The vet paid in cash for the room and considered flying back to her native Poland but feared she would be poisoned mid-flight, it was said.
The following morning, Ewelina begged to stay another night but staff told her the hotel was fully-booked.
Speaking only through her locked door, it was agreed she would stay an extra 30 minutes before checking out.
But the inquest heard at 12.10pm, the hotel owner forced his way in and discovered Ewelina in the bathtub with “extreme” wounds.
Police arrived and found the vet still conscious with two sharp objects beside her and blood across the hotel room.
Her bed had not been slept in and train tickets from Preston to Manchester Airport, Preston to Liverpool, and a London ‘all-zones’ travelcard were strewn across it.
Officers also discovered a bag filled with paperwork, £175 in notes and £12 coins.
Tragically, Ewelina couldn’t be saved and was declared dead shortly after.
Assistant Coroner Ian Potter ruled a verdict of suicide, saying messages between Ewelina and her mum “paint a picture of a fast emerging situation”.
He said this “rapidly escalated to what can only be described as a state of apparent despair, which saw a situation where Ewelina believed that she was being followed on the 24 April 2023 by a group of up to ten people”.
The coroner added: “I have no doubt that Ewelina did believe that she was being followed.
“What is less clear is the source of that belief – whether it was entirely based in reality, or whether it was delusional, either in whole or in part.
“In the absence of expert medical opinion regarding Ewelina’s mental health, which it is not possible to obtain after the fact, we will never know the exact facts of that situation and her belief.
“However what is clear to me, is that at the time she checked into the Staunton hotel, Ewelina was in a state of some fear and distress.”
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
Movember, www.uk.movember.com
Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
The coroner also noted the “nature and extent of Ewelina’s injuries” – especially as a vet would be “more familiar with the basics of biology and anatomy”.
Mr Potter continued: “I find that nobody inflicts injuries of that severity on themselves as a cry for help or expecting to live, particularly not someone of Ewelina’s educational standard.”
Speaking after the inquest, Ewelina’s parents told how their daughter was enjoying her “dream job” working for Moy Vets in Hambelton, Lancashire.
Her dad, Henryk Sasak, said: “She was working as a vet, she had had a pay rise.
“She had something to live for. She had lots of friends in Poland, she was very healthy.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
The vet had checked into the Staunton Hotel in London Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
