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A devastating inquest at Bournemouth Coroners’ Court has revealed the heartbreaking final days of a beloved mother who took her own life just one week after being involved in a road traffic collision and subsequent arrest. Paulina Szafert, a 41-year-old security professional described as a "beautiful soul" by those who knew her, was found deceased in her Christchurch home, leaving a community and family shattered by the sudden loss.
The court heard moving testimony regarding the profound impact a recent car accident had on Ms Szafert’s mental state. While she was known outwardly for her strength—working as a head door person at nightspots across Bournemouth and London—privately, the events leading up to her death had caused her immense distress. Witnesses described her as being left "traumatised" and "physically shaking" following the incident and her interaction with police custody.
Alicja Fabisiak, a close friend of the deceased, provided a statement noting that while Paulina had navigated mental health challenges in the past, the accident served as a significant catalyst that severely impacted her state of mind. The stress of the legal complications and the shock of the crash appeared to be a burden too heavy to bear.
The timeline of the tragedy unfolded when Ms Fabisiak attempted to contact Paulina. The day prior to the discovery, Paulina had been asleep for 14 hours, having taken medication that she said had "knocked her out." Her final communication was a text message sent later that day, simply wishing her friend a good night with a promise to meet the following day. When silence followed the next morning, concern grew.
Upon arriving at the property in Christchurch, Ms Fabisiak could hear Paulina’s beloved French bulldog, Fifi, barking from inside. With the help of a neighbour and a spare key, they entered the flat to find Paulina unresponsive. Police investigators later recorded the presence of a large quantity of empty medication packets on a bedside table. A post-mortem examination subsequently confirmed that Ms Szafert had extremely high levels of painkillers and sleeping tablets in her system.
In a heartbreaking final gesture, Paulina left a note addressing her turmoil. It contained a message of undying love for her family, admitting she felt she could no longer cope with her circumstances. Crucially, even in her final moments, her concern remained for her dependents, as she left specific instructions asking friends to care for her dog, Fifi. The coroner officially recorded a conclusion of suicide.
The tragedy has highlighted the stark contrast between Paulina's private pain and her vibrant public persona. Having moved to the UK from Poland in 2004, she was driven by a desire to provide a better life for her son, Kacper. In a poignant statement, her son remembered her as an "amazing" mother who consistently prioritized the needs of others above her own. He noted that despite seeing her just days before her death, she had appeared to be coping, a testament to the often invisible nature of mental health struggles. He expressed disbelief that she would leave him and Fifi behind, underscoring the shock felt by the family.
Beyond her family life, Paulina was a respected figure in the local security industry and was actively training to become a beautician, looking toward a new future. Her colleagues at Vanguard Security Services expressed deep sorrow at the loss of a "cherished member" of their team. They painted a picture of a woman full of life, who loved the sun, took pride in her appearance, and adored her son, whom they described as the "light of her life."
Following the tragedy, the community rallied around the family, launching a GoFundMe appeal to assist in repatriating Paulina’s body to Poland for a proper burial. Tributes continue to pour in, remembering a woman who was kind, strong, and full of compassion, yet ultimately overwhelmed by a perfect storm of traumatic events.
