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Tributes have flooded in from friends of Hackbridge teenager and Richmond College student Claudia Landa, who was fatally hit by a lorry in Mitcham on Wednesday, April 2.

If you would like to add your words or pictures to this tribute page, please email Louisa Clarence-Smith at louisa.clarence@london.newsquest.co.uk.

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In loving memory of Claudia Landa (YouTube, by Wonderful World of Ally)



Claudia was a great friend of mine, a recent one in fact. I met her in September 2013. We instantly made a connection.

"It was hard not to like Claudia, she had a magnetic personality. People were drawn to her. If you walked into a room full of strangers Claudia would be the first to introduce herself and make an outsider feel welcome.

"She had a beautiful soul, A radiant benevolent spirit, full of love. She just personified the words colour and life, much like her hair she was just a huge kaleidoscope of vibrancy and eccentricity.

"She will be missed dearly by not only me but the rest of humanity."

Maia Rose Davenport







"I don't really know where to start with Claudia, I’ve known her over a decade as we went to primary school and high school together, and I can tell you she was one of the best people I've ever met.

"She was funny, kind, and just brilliant in every aspect. Claudia had been through a lot, but she was always smiling and she was always able to make me smile, that's what made her such an amazing friend.

"Claudia and I have so many memories, from going to the gym with each other in year 8, recording ourselves do a cinnamon challenge in which you hear her throw up in the background, to her 15th birthday at Hyde Park and the out-of-the-blue cake baking visits we would have whenever we felt like it.

"Claudia had one of the biggest impacts on my life, and she will always be remembered, not only for her crazy and ambitious hair colours or her up-front personality and opinions and not even for her obsession with Law and Order, but simply for the fact that she was one of the greatest people you could ever meet, and anyone who knew her, knew that.

"She will be missed by everyone, especially me."

Emily Stanley


Claudia was always there for me, if I needed to talk to someone she would be there. When I had no where to go she would take me in.

She would always know how to make me laugh and cheer me up, no matter the circumstances. She would do anything for her friends and she will be missed dearly.

Emma Bothamley



"What can I say. Claudia had a lot of love, she had a big heart and gave it to everyone one she came across.

"She could always make you smile no matter what, though her honesty and truth made her become one of my closest friends.

Tatiana Yusuf


"Since year 7, I have never met a girl so outgoing and hilarious.

"Whether you knew her or not, Claudia would always bring a massive smile on your face or have you in stitches of laughter.

"She wouldn't allow anyone being horrible to her or her friends and for this, I will miss her so terribly. She kept me positive and she allowed me, at my lowest, to see the best in myself.

"I can only suggest that God wanted her for himself acting as a beautiful angel to look after all of us from up above."

Hannah Knight




Cloud was one of my closest friends who I admired so much.

The first time I met her was last year near March at a meetup in London where she hilariously approached me in McDonalds with ice in her hand singing ice ice baby and throwing the ice on my table. It was so spontaneously hilarious and it really does reveal how funny her character was.

I only properly met her when we started college and we grew so close, she would always make me smile and make my day so interesting and entertaining.

Claudia was the most genuine person I knew and was always herself and honest, I have always admired that about her. It took a long time for her death to hit me, it was such a shock now that everything is so quiet without her ecstatic and humorous energy filling my day.

She will be greatly missed by so many people. It’s so devastating that someone so remarkable has gone so quickly. It’s difficult to put into words how much she meant to me, I hope she’s in a happy place, making friends with Ian Curtis.

The photo is of me cloud and our friend Issy McDonald and Cloud and I.

Chris Burrey




Claudia was so uninhibited, she just did what she felt like and she did it with confidence, I always admired that about her.

Cloud and I became close in year 8 at Carshalton Girls. I remember when I joined a local drama club with her; I will be grateful for that forever, as drama is still something that I love and I like to think of it as a gift from her.

She was really into her music - we used to listen to Joy Division all the time, we were extras in a music video, we went to a few gigs together and I remember we learnt some basics on the drums together. We were really similar in our interests.

My friendship group has been struggling to cope with the tragedy, it still feels like a horrendous nightmare, but it's been a slight comfort for us to read all the lovely messages and memories people have been posting online.

She was a whirlwind to know but I always liked that and she had a heart of gold. She was absolutely hilarious. It's hard for me to adequately describe the bond we had, she meant the world to me.

Chloe Leatt


Flowers left at the scene in Mitcham









I don't really know what to say or even explain how much Claudia will be missed and how loved she was. Claudia was wonderful funny and a very lovable beautiful girl who will never be forgotten.

The memories and times I have shared with her. I am so sorry to family and friends.

Sophia Bennett