DEATH FALL TRAGEDY OF SINGER NUELIA LAGOS, 33

Published: 06 August, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

A TALENTED singer and devout Christian who helped others to deal with depression was found at the foot of a stairwell after falling to her death. 

Nuelia Lagos, who taught at a nursery school near Canary Wharf and used her own experiences to help others with depression, was discovered last Wednesday on the Barbican estate.

Staff discovered the body of the 33-year-old as they made their rounds of the car park under Breton House just after 7am. The block was cordoned off for more than a day while police examined the scene.

City of London Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious.

It is understood Mrs Lagos, who had attempted suicide three times previously, was staying in Breton House with her husband Evandro, who is believed to be out of the country. Staff at the Barbican said they had seen Mr Lagos about three weeks ago, when he told them he was going to Brazil.

On Monday Mr Lagos posted a video on YouTube entitled Nuelia & Evandro Loves and Dreams. Underneath, the caption reads: “Our true love – to the memory of Nuelia Lagos”.

The video, shot by Mrs Lagos, a devout Christian who attended the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, shows the couple both wearing “I Believe” T-shirts.

Mr Lagos tells her he must leave but that he’ll be back soon, to which his wife asks: “Anything to say before you leave?” 

He tells her: “I’ll come back very soon. I love you. You’re my dream that came true.”

The nursery teacher replies: “I love you and I’m going to fight for you to be here as soon as possible… I’m going to be knocking on heaven’s door every day.”

According to her MySpace page, Mrs Lagos – who sang under her maiden name Nuelia de Abreu and grew up in South Africa to Portuguese parents – began writing songs in 2008. Two of her songs, No More Delays and Love Song, are posted on YouTube.

Friends have left condolence messages below.

One, FatimaMariah said: “RIP Nuelia. Heaven has one more angel singing there.”

Another, Reetkapeet wrote: “Nuelia I miss you more and more. May your beautiful soul rest in peace.”

Mrs Lagos moved to London in 2001.

Her website says: “Growing up in South Africa meant exposure to the end stages of the Apartheid regime, crime and also the Aids virus… Nuelia uses her songs as a medium to express what she has learned in her life experiences. Her main focus is reaching out to those who are depressed. Nuelia used to suffer from depression. She suffered several depressive episodes and even attempted suicide on three occasions. She was able to fully recover from depression through the help and support she received at the UCKG Help Centre.”

Mrs Lagos spent her spare time writing songs and trying to help others who suffered from depression.

In November 2007 she trekked up Ben Nevis to raise funds for a Help Centre that works with young people in Peckham.

Her website added: “Nuelia sees music, especially the message of the song, as a powerful way of reaching out to people; to educate, to help, to inspire people in their walk in life. Nuelia’s ultimate aim is to transmit a message of love, joy, hope, and strength in her songs.”

An inquest into Mrs Lagos’s death was opened and adjourned at City of London Coroner’s Court where the cause of death was given as head injuries.

A spokesman for City of London Police said: “At approximately 7.30am on Wednesday July 28, the body of a woman was discovered at Breton House, north Barbican. It is not being treated as suspicious. An investigation in ongoing.”

It is understood Mrs Lagos fell to her death from a balcony. 

Anyone with information can contact City of London Police on 020 7601 2222.