Junior doctor’s body lay undiscovered for THREE DAYS in hospital after he ‘hanged himself just a week into new job’
Questions are being asked of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham as to why the alarm wasn't raised sooner
A JUNIOR doctor's body went undiscovered for three days after he allegedly hanged himself in a hospital store room.
Eduard Zigar, 25, was found by colleagues after a worried friend had reported him missing.
The Lithuanian medic had only worked three shifts at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital before his body was found at around 10.30pm on Bank Holiday Monday last week.
But two sources say that the junior doctor, who lived in Wolverhampton, had been missing since the Friday before.
One said: "He was at work on Friday but no one heard from him that night or over the weekend.
"It is believed he died on the Friday but his body was not discovered in the store room until the Monday.
"Questions are being asked as to why the alarm wasn't raised sooner."
A spokeswoman for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said: "The Trust will not comment further until the conclusion of the inquest."
The Trust had previously issued a statement saying: "An agency locum doctor was sadly found dead on hospital premises on Monday August 27.
"The individual had started work with the trust the previous week, and had completed three shifts in general surgery.
"The police were called, and the death has been referred to the coroner.
"Our deepest sympathies are extended to family and friends."
West Midlands Police said: "The death is not being treated as suspicious and has been referred to the coroner."
A friend had appealed for information about Mr Zigar's whereabouts in a Facebook group of Lithuanians living in England just hours before his body was found.
Tributes have flooded into his girlfriend Giedre Zibaitye following the news.
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Karina Asrilan wrote: “He was such a good person, just an amazing person, kind, smart and a real gentleman.”
And Senol Karabaltaoglu said: “So shocked. RIP gentle boy, Condolences.”
An inquest was opened and adjourned into Mr Zigar's death on Tuesday, with the full hearing scheduled for December.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, the Samaritans can be contacted by any phone for free on 116 123.