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| Open verdict on death of Polish-born teenager after claims of bullying | Open verdict on death of Polish-born teenager after claims of bullying |
| (6 months later) | |
| Coroner rules there was no evidence that Dagmara Przybysz, who was found hanging in school toilets, intended to end her life | |
| Press Association | |
| Wed 19 Jul 2017 17.41 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 19.52 GMT | |
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| A coroner has recorded an open verdict on the death of a Polish-born teenager who was found hanged in the toilets at her school after complaining she had been called a “stupid Pole” and told to “go back to your own country” by other pupils. | A coroner has recorded an open verdict on the death of a Polish-born teenager who was found hanged in the toilets at her school after complaining she had been called a “stupid Pole” and told to “go back to your own country” by other pupils. |
| Dagmara Przybysz, an aspiring photographer who was looking forward to her year 11 prom and shopping for a dress, told her mother and her boyfriend that she was being taunted by girls at her school before she was found dead at Pool Academy in Redruth, Cornwall, on 17 May 2016. | Dagmara Przybysz, an aspiring photographer who was looking forward to her year 11 prom and shopping for a dress, told her mother and her boyfriend that she was being taunted by girls at her school before she was found dead at Pool Academy in Redruth, Cornwall, on 17 May 2016. |
| One message from the teenager to her boyfriend, Lewis Simpson, read: “Not the best day at school, people saying things about me because I am from Poland. I don’t even know their names.” | One message from the teenager to her boyfriend, Lewis Simpson, read: “Not the best day at school, people saying things about me because I am from Poland. I don’t even know their names.” |
| At a three-day inquest into the 16-year-old’s death, Dagmara’s parents criticised the school over the length of time – more than 90 minutes – it took to find their daughter after she went missing from class. They questioned why incidents she reported to staff had not been recorded as bullying. | At a three-day inquest into the 16-year-old’s death, Dagmara’s parents criticised the school over the length of time – more than 90 minutes – it took to find their daughter after she went missing from class. They questioned why incidents she reported to staff had not been recorded as bullying. |
| On Wednesday Cornwall coroner Dr Emma Carlyon said that “although the evidence pointed to a self-inflicted death” there was no other evidence, such as a note, that Dagmara had intended to end her own life. | On Wednesday Cornwall coroner Dr Emma Carlyon said that “although the evidence pointed to a self-inflicted death” there was no other evidence, such as a note, that Dagmara had intended to end her own life. |
| She said: “Although she was clearly upset in the previous 48 hours she was reportedly fine at school and she took her dyslexia test to help her in college. She was clearly enjoying the relationship with Lewis and was making plans for the school ball.” | She said: “Although she was clearly upset in the previous 48 hours she was reportedly fine at school and she took her dyslexia test to help her in college. She was clearly enjoying the relationship with Lewis and was making plans for the school ball.” |
| Carlyon added that there was no evidence of mental health issues “or any significant racism or bullying issues immediately prior to death, although she had been clearly upset by incidents that occurred, particularly on May 16/17”. | Carlyon added that there was no evidence of mental health issues “or any significant racism or bullying issues immediately prior to death, although she had been clearly upset by incidents that occurred, particularly on May 16/17”. |
| Dagmara, who was about to take her GCSE exams, had a place to study photography at Truro College the following year but was concerned about doing well in her exams and worried she might have dyslexia, the inquest heard. | Dagmara, who was about to take her GCSE exams, had a place to study photography at Truro College the following year but was concerned about doing well in her exams and worried she might have dyslexia, the inquest heard. |
| Statements from teachers, read out during the hearing at Cornwall coroner’s court in Truro, described her as a friendly, happy and lovely girl, with one teacher saying she had a fiery character and enjoyed playing football. | Statements from teachers, read out during the hearing at Cornwall coroner’s court in Truro, described her as a friendly, happy and lovely girl, with one teacher saying she had a fiery character and enjoyed playing football. |
| In a statement, Dagmara’s mother, Ewelina, said her daughter, who was a “very beautiful lady”, got on better with boys than girls and most of her friends, including her boyfriend, went to another school. Przybysz said her daughter had been having a problem with one girl who had “called Dagmara names”. | In a statement, Dagmara’s mother, Ewelina, said her daughter, who was a “very beautiful lady”, got on better with boys than girls and most of her friends, including her boyfriend, went to another school. Przybysz said her daughter had been having a problem with one girl who had “called Dagmara names”. |
| “I don’t know exactly what was said,” she said. “This incident occurred only a few days before Dagmara passed away ... I don’t know whether these incidents were racist in nature; however, I can say that on several occasions she overheard comments such as ‘stupid Pole’.” | “I don’t know exactly what was said,” she said. “This incident occurred only a few days before Dagmara passed away ... I don’t know whether these incidents were racist in nature; however, I can say that on several occasions she overheard comments such as ‘stupid Pole’.” |
| She added: “We think the biggest problem for Dagmara was not racism, but bullying.” | She added: “We think the biggest problem for Dagmara was not racism, but bullying.” |
| Lewis said Dagmara told him that other pupils made racist comments to her such as “go back to your own country” and he said: “I think it got to her a little bit.” | Lewis said Dagmara told him that other pupils made racist comments to her such as “go back to your own country” and he said: “I think it got to her a little bit.” |
| However staff at the school, including the assistant principal, Lisette Neesham, said there was no record of Dagmara suffering from either bullying or racism. Shesaid the school took those issues very seriously. | However staff at the school, including the assistant principal, Lisette Neesham, said there was no record of Dagmara suffering from either bullying or racism. Shesaid the school took those issues very seriously. |
| CCTV from the school showed Dagmara entering the toilets at 12.14pm. Her science teacher marked her as absent, which the inquest heard should have sparked a series of actions resulting in Dagmara being found within 20 minutes or with the matter being escalated. DS Steve Panter, who investigated the case, said there was no evidence such a search was carried out. | CCTV from the school showed Dagmara entering the toilets at 12.14pm. Her science teacher marked her as absent, which the inquest heard should have sparked a series of actions resulting in Dagmara being found within 20 minutes or with the matter being escalated. DS Steve Panter, who investigated the case, said there was no evidence such a search was carried out. |
| The alarm was raised more than an hour and a half later when two pupils, aged 11 or 12, spoke to staff co-ordinator Paula Hosking after using the facilities twice and realising Dagmara was still in there the second time. | The alarm was raised more than an hour and a half later when two pupils, aged 11 or 12, spoke to staff co-ordinator Paula Hosking after using the facilities twice and realising Dagmara was still in there the second time. |
| Hosking went to the toilets and called for help. Neesham and pastoral support worker and first aider Rodney Peasley were the two who answered the call. Paramedic Christopher Taylor said they found Dagmara on the floor covered from head to toe in a blanket, with no evidence of any attempt at CPR, adding she was warm to touch. | Hosking went to the toilets and called for help. Neesham and pastoral support worker and first aider Rodney Peasley were the two who answered the call. Paramedic Christopher Taylor said they found Dagmara on the floor covered from head to toe in a blanket, with no evidence of any attempt at CPR, adding she was warm to touch. |
| The inquest heard staff members believed Dagmara to be dead when they found her and decided not to carry out CPR, despite being asked to do so by the 999 call handler. However, Taylor said he did not think the outcome would have been different if CPR had been attempted “on this occasion”. | The inquest heard staff members believed Dagmara to be dead when they found her and decided not to carry out CPR, despite being asked to do so by the 999 call handler. However, Taylor said he did not think the outcome would have been different if CPR had been attempted “on this occasion”. |
| Both Ewelina Przybysz and Dagmara’s father, Jedrzej Przybysz, became frustrated at times during the hearing and had several heated exchanges with staff from the school. In one they questioned Neesham about why a conversation between their daughter and pastoral support manager Susan Kent the day before their daughter’s death had not been logged on the system as it should have been. | Both Ewelina Przybysz and Dagmara’s father, Jedrzej Przybysz, became frustrated at times during the hearing and had several heated exchanges with staff from the school. In one they questioned Neesham about why a conversation between their daughter and pastoral support manager Susan Kent the day before their daughter’s death had not been logged on the system as it should have been. |
| Neesham said the school had a racism, bullying and homophobia log for the most serious incidents and Dagmara was not in it. | Neesham said the school had a racism, bullying and homophobia log for the most serious incidents and Dagmara was not in it. |
| Przybysz said the system did not work but Neesham replied she did not think there was a problem with the system. “As a school we take bullying, racism and homophobia really seriously,” she said. In a statement read out to the hearing, pathologist Dr Juliane Stolte, who carried out the postmortem examination, said the cause of death was hanging. | Przybysz said the system did not work but Neesham replied she did not think there was a problem with the system. “As a school we take bullying, racism and homophobia really seriously,” she said. In a statement read out to the hearing, pathologist Dr Juliane Stolte, who carried out the postmortem examination, said the cause of death was hanging. |
| Panter said: “We have evidence that Dagmara spoke of incidents of being bullied and being made to feel unhappy but this was in a very non-specific way and we simply don’t have details of the scale, frequency or have any real understanding of how significant these incidents were in Dagamara’s decision on May 17.” | Panter said: “We have evidence that Dagmara spoke of incidents of being bullied and being made to feel unhappy but this was in a very non-specific way and we simply don’t have details of the scale, frequency or have any real understanding of how significant these incidents were in Dagamara’s decision on May 17.” |
| Asked if bullying or racism played a part in her death, DS Craig Daddow said: “I am unable to say.” | Asked if bullying or racism played a part in her death, DS Craig Daddow said: “I am unable to say.” |
| In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. | In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. |
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