A university breached multiple legal duties in the lead up to the death of a Nottingham student, a court has ruled. Natasha Abrahart's body was found in her private flat on the day she was due to give a presentation in a 329-seat lecture theatre at the University of Bristol where she studied back in April 2018.
The second-year physics student had been diagnosed with chronic Social Anxiety Disorder in February 2018. It was during that academic year that staff at the university became aware that she was experiencing anxiety and panic attacks in her oral assessments, having excelled in written assignments. In February 2018 a university employee received an email from Natasha’s account saying “I’ve been having suicidal thoughts and, to a certain degree, attempted it".
After her death, Natasha's parents, Robert and Margaret Abrahart - aged 66 and 60 and from West Bridgford - filed court documents challenging the University’s role in Natasha’s death - the trial was heard at Bristol Crown Court. After finding that Natasha’s suffering was “serious and, from what I have seen in the evidence, continuous”, the Judge ordered the University to pay damages of £50,518. This reflected the injury to Natasha’s feelings, the deterioration in her mental health caused by the University, and funeral costs.
