One of Britain's top young musicians killed herself after being rejected by four medical schools, an inquest heard.
Imogen Moorsom was a brilliant horn player and qualified for the final of BBC's Young Musician of the Year in 2022 and played in the National Youth Orchestra.
After taking a gap year, the 20-year-old applied to four medical schools, but was unsuccessful. Instead, he got a place to study science at Lancaster University.
The musician, who was diagnosed with autism, developed mental health problems due to the Covid lockdown for which she was receiving treatment.
But her inquest found she had 'struggled to meet her very high standards' and 'had been unable to accept her failure to pursue medical training'.
She suffered a downward spiral in her mental health after returning from a family holiday last August.
She began preparing to move to Lancashire but was found dead by her mother, Rosemary, in her bedroom at the family home in Milton Abbas, Dorset.
Mrs. Moorsom, a professional violinist and violin teacher, thought her daughter was sleeping in.
Imogen Moorsom (pictured) was a brilliant French horn player and qualified for the final of BBC's Young Musician of the Year in 2022
The musician, who was diagnosed with autism, developed mental health problems due to the Covid lockdown
The inquest heard that Imogen had 'struggled to meet her very high standards' and 'had been unable to accept her failure to get into medical school'
She said in a statement: “On August 12, I woke up around 8am. Imogen went to bed the night before around 11.30pm and this was the last time I saw her.
'I went into her room around 11.40am to let the cat in and I thought she was sleeping. I noticed her bedside lamp was on, which was strange.
'I went to her to remove the ligature but did not start CPR as she felt cold as it was clear she had died.'
Imogen was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination revealed that she had died from strangulation.
Imogen, whose father Michael is a professional cellist, attended Wells Cathedral School, an exclusive independent school in Somerset, which specializes in musical training.
She received lessons in the French horn from the famous teacher and musician Simon de Souza.
In addition to the horn, she was a choirboy, practiced karate and studied chemistry, mathematics and music at A-level.
The inquest in Bournemouth heard she had started university in London in 2022 but dropped out in her first year due to mental health problems.
After taking time off, she started applying to medical schools, in addition to volunteering at Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.
Imogen, whose father Michael is a professional cellist, attended Wells Cathedral School, an exclusive independent school in Somerset
Imogen received French horn lessons from the well-known teacher and musician Simon de Souza
However, she was unsuccessful in her four applications, which seriously damaged her mental health and led to her being taken to the Priory Hospital in Southampton.
She had also previously expressed suicidal thoughts.
After receiving specialist care, she was discharged on July 25 last year to go on holiday to northern England with her family.
When she returned home, she had further meetings with her psychiatrists, who had some contact with Imogen's parents, to make them aware of their concerns about her being left alone.
Mrs Moorsom's statement, which was read out by Richard Middleton, Dorset's assistant coroner, said: 'Imogen was a talented musician, chorister who attended a specialist musician program at Wells Cathedral School.
'She lived at home and planned to study science at Lancaster University.
'Her medical history described her as suffering from depression and anxiety.
'In 2023, her general health improved and she worked hard to secure a place at a medical school. She got four interviews but got no places.
'In May 2024 her health deteriorated and in July she was taken to Southampton General Hospital and again said she was having suicidal thoughts.'
Dr. Tessa Jones, a psychiatrist who treated Imogen at The Priory Hospital in Southampton, said: 'She had not been able to accept her failure to undergo medical training.
'She was an intelligent person who was very popular but sometimes struggled to live up to her very high standards.
“She told me her thoughts on moving to Lancaster. She planned to get a job in a cafe to help her financially. She clearly had plans for the future.
“She said in July that she was feeling better and looking forward to going to college.”
Imogen was unsuccessful in her four university applications, which seriously damaged her mental health and led to her being taken to the Priory Hospital in Southampton.
Christopher Stone, from the Blandford mental health team, who had been meeting with Imogen from February 2023, raised concerns about her mental health to her parents just days before her suicide.
He said: 'When she found out she hadn't been offered a place at medical school, she took a place to go to Lancaster but wasn't sure it would work out at all.
'She also said she had put a ligature around her neck a few times and I said there was a serious possibility of suicide.
'I had discussions with other staff about her suicide risk and it was agreed that she could go on holiday with the family the following week. She said she thought she could go.
'I met her on August 8, but due to illness this did not take place in person. She said she felt a little better, but she hadn't slept well.
“It was a little more positive when she said she was going to play sports in college and get her horn. She then said she was having suicidal thoughts again.
'I contacted her parents, who were going to be away that weekend, that at least one of them had to stay home that weekend.
“We lost contact and we are very sad to hear that she committed suicide.”
Mr Middleton recorded a verdict of suicide on the balance of probabilities, with strangulation as the cause of death.
He said: 'I now offer my deepest condolences and condolences to all her family and friends in this sad case.'
A spokesperson for Wells Cathedral School said: “We were heartbroken to hear of Imogen's death in August 2024.
'She was a wonderful student and showed talents in many areas, not least music; her performances repeatedly enriched the lives of all who were fortunate enough to hear them.
'We send our deepest condolences to Imogen's parents, siblings and wider family, and all of us at WCS remember her with great affection.'
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support