Tragedy of nurse on duty during Arena bombing
NEWLY-QUALIFIED CLARA’S DEPRESSION AND SELF-DOUBT RESURFACED AFTER SEEING AFTERMATH OF BOMBING
A NEWLY-qualified nurse who had a promising career ahead of her took her own life after struggling with depression and self-doubt, an inquest heard. Clara Malagon, 22, described by her father as a ‘dedicated, fantastic woman,’ was found hanged by her friend at their flat in Manchester city centre in July, last year. Weeks earlier, she had been on duty on the night of the Manchester Arena attack and had seen first-hand some of the young victims and their injuries. Clara had suffered low moods and had been prescribed antidepressants during her degree in nursing at the University of Manchester, but qualified as a critical care nurse in 2016 and took a job at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Her mental health issues returned several weeks after the Arena attack. The coroner said it remains unknown why she killed herself. Recording a conclusion of suicide at a hearing in Manchester, Coroner Andrew Bridgman said: “(Clara) was on medication for around six to seven months, to which she came off it and appeared to be fine. “However, this resurfaces towards mid-June 2017 – three to four weeks following the Manchester Arena tragedy when she was on duty. It clearly had some effect on her. However, I have had a discussion with her father, and there was no specific reference to the trauma of the events of that night.
“There appears to be no reason and no evidence as to why Clara had depression and was in a low ebb when she wished to take her own life.
“She had been supported by her father, her family and her friends. It’s a real tragedy.’’ The inquest heard how Clara, from Twickenham, South-West London, was a keen rower and enjoyed cycling, running and walking, and also played the viola and took up ballet and flamenco dancing.
Her father Dr Ignacio Malagon, a consultant anaesthetist at Wythenshawe Hospital, wept as he told the Manchester hearing: “Clara was a staff nurse but she had done a training course in intensive care.
“She was on duty in May last year during the Arena attack.
“It was traumatic for her and I rang her, I was in hospital too, and I said to her: ‘Are you okay?’ And she said: “Yeah, dad, it’s really tough.”
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