A FAMILY spoke of their heart-wrenching devastation at the loss of an 18-year-old boy to suicide. 

Much-loved Nazaif Zulkarnin Haider Jaffrey, 18, tragically took his own life on January 14 this year.

He was discovered by members of his family at their Lidget Green home. Attempts were made at CPR, but Nazaif was pronounced dead at Bradford Royal Infirmary a little after half past midnight. 

His family paid touching tributes to the teenager during the hearing, held at Bradford Coroners’ Court, and his death was described as the “biggest loss” the family had faced.

His mother said: “He was a kind and quiet young man, who loved his family.”

The court heard that despite the love and care of his family, he had struggled with mental health issues and had taken two overdoses in 2019 – one in February and the other in March.

After the last overdose, he was referred to Bradford’s mental health service and said he had no current suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of harming himself or others, and was deemed to have mental capacity.

He refused further support or referral to any other service and was discharged home. 
The inquest heard that following Nazaif’s death, an investigation had been carried out into the services that were involved with him.

It found there were several missed opportunities to contact the teenager after his referral to mental health services in March 2019, but it could not be concluded that the lack of contact with him after his referral contributed to his death in January the following year. 

His girlfriend, Gemma Wilkinson, touched on him being depressed in a statement read out in court and said that he hated living in Bradford, while Qamaar Waheed, the boss of a takeaway where the teenager had worked, said he had seen injuries to Nazaif’s right and left wrists. 

Nazaif’s family raised concern he was a victim of bullying by some friends and highlighted a video on social media they had seen following his death and feared he had been assaulted.

His father Zulfiqar Ali said he had they “not done what they had done, this would not have happened”. 

He said his son was a victim of abuse and the family wanted justice. PC Katherine Jones said it was not possible to take further action against the three males identified and interviewed relating to the incident, on January 3.

While it was apparent an incident had taken place, it could not be confirmed exactly what had happened. She said there is “no evidence of ongoing bullying despite the family’s belief this was an ongoing issue”. 

Assistant coroner Angela Brocklehurst said she accepted this. She said Nazaif intended to take his own life, had left notes to his loved ones and and ruled his death was an act of suicide. 

She told his family: “There’s nothing I can say that’s going to help with the pain of that loss. I know that he was loved by all his family. 

“You tell me he was a special boy and that’s clear in the evidence that has come out.”

If you are feeling suicidal you can call the Samaritans free at any time on 116 123.