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Even in her final moments, Hannah Clarke's loved ones saw her bravery shine through.

 

This post deals with domestic violence and might be triggering for some readers. If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic violence, call 1800RESPECTon 1800 737 732. In an emergency, call 000.

Before Hannah Clarke took her final breath, as she lay on the hospital bed in the Intensive Care Unit, the mother-of-three fought for justice.

On Wednesday morning, the 19th of February, Hannah was doing her routine school run when her estranged 42-year-old husband doused her car in petrol, burning to death their three children – Lainah, six years old, Aaliyah, 4, and Trey, 3 – and ultimately killing Hannah, who died in hospital a few hours later. The killer himself died from self-inflicted wounds.

hannah clarke family
Hannah Clarke was a loving mother to her three children: Lainah, six years old, Aaliyah, 4, and Trey, 3. Image: Facebook.
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At the vigil for Hannah Clarke and her three children on Sunday night, her final act of bravery was revealed.

"Right through to her passing, Hannah showed amazing courage and heroism, ensuring that she gave our police and emergency services at the scene a detailed statement of the horrific events that unfolded, leading to the death of her three children and ultimately herself," Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said.

"Hannah’s determination to provide our police the information they needed to ensure justice should be served truly encapsulates the sort of person Hannah was. She was strong, she was determined, she was courageous."

Commissioner Carroll shared Hannah Clarke's aspirations to join the police force, saying she had "no doubt that Hannah would have made an incredible police officer".

"How lucky we would have been in the Queensland Police to have welcomed someone with those attributes into our policing family."

Watch: The hidden numbers in women and violence. Post continues below. 

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Hannah was treated at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, after suffering burns to 97 per cent of her body.

Simon Farmer, a good friend of Hannah's, who saw her in the Intensive Care Unit, reflected on her final moments in a Facebook post.

"She hung in there," he wrote, "until the last heartbeat brought a tidal wave of grief and anger.

"You should all know how strong she was, she fought so hard."

Simon added: "Hannah was such a positive person, she was always smiling. A big heart with a big smile. She came around last Thursday and spoke with positivity about the year ahead, hoping for a better year than 2019."

As we now know, that future was violently stripped from her.

Hannah Clarke
Hannah Clarke with her three children, Lainah, six years old, Aaliyah, 4, and Trey, 3. Image: Facebook.
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Hannah’s parents, Lloyd and Suzanne Clarke, and her brother, Nathaniel, gave an interview to A Current Affair on Friday night in which they too reflected on the final moments of Hannah's life.

"To the end she fought to make sure if he [her estranged husband] survived he got punished for doing that to her babies. She was so brave," Suzanne Clarke said.

"I think she passed out after that. She made sure she got out as much information as possible."

The family then held up Hannah's footprint - the only thing they were able to save from her body after she was burned.

"My sister was so badly burnt that the only thing they could do for memorabilia of her was a footprint," Nathaniel tearfully said. "We are wanting the symbol of her foot somehow to be a symbol for her and her legacy."

If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.

Feature image: Facebook. 


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