18 January 2023 , 19:23
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A 22-year-old paramedic was found dead in her bedroom on New Year's Eve, an inquest heard.
Zaquira Lawson-Cos was discovered unresponsive by her ex-boyfriend at her home in Kent, the hearing was told.
The "kind-hearted" young woman, who was born in Havana, Cuba, had video-called her mum the night before she died, the inquest opening heard.
She had then gone to Maidstone with her housemate and when the pair returned home, they went to their bedrooms.
Ms Lawson-Cos's ex-partner, who also lived at the house in the village of Coxheath, returned from his shift at around 7am on New Year's Eve.
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After going to sleep, he went to Ms Lawson-Cos's room when he woke up at around 1pm to ask for a charger.
The young paramedic video-called her mum the night before she died (Facebook/Zaquira Lawson-Cos)But he found her unresponsive in her pyjamas with her make-up still on – and her bed hadn't been slept in, the hearing at County Hall, Maidstone, was told.
The paramedic's cause of death was given as hanging. She was identified by police and her friend.
Her colleagues let off heart-shaped balloons in her memory on New Year's Day.
"You will be truly missed good friend," Shana Widden said.
"Stand down Zaquira Lawson-Cos, you truly are amazing. Heaven has gained a true kind-hearted individual. Taken from us too soon.
She was discovered unresponsive by her ex-boyfriend at her home in Kent (Facebook/Zaquira Lawson-Cos)"Thank you everyone who came and showed your support tonight. Until we meet again."
The inquest was adjourned to a full hearing in March.
Laurence Sopp, South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) operating unit manager for Medway, said: "Zaquira was a popular colleague who had many friends across the service.
"She will be sadly missed by all those who knew and worked with her.
'Disabled people are too often falling off the radar and it's costing lives'
"Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time."
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