Inquest finds Royal Marine rookie who died was known as ‘worst recruit’

A failure by medical staff to spot the ‘cry for help’ of a distressed Royal Marine recruit ‘probably’ contributed to his suicide, a coroner has concluded.

Teenager Connor Clark confessed, just two days before he took his life, to self-harming in order to get out of basic training duties at the Commando Training Centre.

But the military doctor who treated his wound allegedly neglected to raise the alarm about his mental state.

Senior Devon coroner Philip Spinney said yesterday that the failure to hold a case conference to inform Connor’s instructors about his disturbing behaviour ‘probably or more than minimally’ contributed to his death at Lympstone in Devon.

Tracy Clark, mother of the 18-year-old from Norwich, said she would have ‘driven there myself and taken him home’ had she been made aware of the self-harm episode.

An inquest into the death of Royal Marine rookie Connor Clark has found medical staff failed to spot his ‘cries for help’  (pictured at age 14 with his mother Tracey)

The 18-year-old had confessed to self harming two days before he took his own life (pictured: his mother Tracey)

She added: ‘Connor and I were very close. I know my son and I know how proud he was.

‘The fact the doctor didn’t take his self-harming seriously is beyond me. It is a cry for help. There should have been a plan in place to check on him.’

Surgeon Commander Jon Bedford expressed regret over not taking Connor’s self-harm more seriously. The vulnerable recruit had cut his arm on a radiator but made the wound worse himself before seeking attention.

Mr Bedford said: ‘I did not adhere to the guidance and thus made a poor and wrong decision in not seeking a case conference. I felt [his action] was done to increase the gravity of the injury so he had sufficient reason to visit the medical centre.’

Mr Spinney said Connor had become ‘overwhelmed’ by his own shortcomings on the training course, including losing equipment and poor performance on the parade square.

This is said to have led to the teenager being abused by his training team of battle-hardened corporals and sergeants.

The Mail exclusively revealed the death in June 2021 and later unearthed the findings of an internal investigation.

That report acknowledged the negative comments and aggressive behaviour he was repeatedly subjected to may have played a part in the tragedy. It led to a raft of changes to training protocols and measures to improve the welfare of recruits.

The inquest also heard how vital opportunities to prevent Connor’s death were missed on the night of his disappearance.

Faulty CCTV cameras meant his escape over a fence surrounding the base went unnoticed for two hours.

Surprisingly, nobody from the training centre searched outside its perimeter when they realised he was missing – despite a makeshift noose being found close to his accommodation.

‘The fact the doctor didn’t take his self-harming seriously is beyond me. It is a cry for help. There should have been a plan in place to check on him,’ his mother said 

Surgeon Commander Jon Bedford expressed regret over not taking Connor’s self-harm more seriously (pictured: Connor Clark) 

His body was subsequently found next to an adjacent railway line. The coroner described the response to his sudden departure as ‘inadequate’.

Connor left a heartbreaking note for mum Tracy apologising for his actions and saying mistreatment had shattered his self-esteem. He described himself as ‘weak, a slacker and dim-witted’, words he suggested the instructors had used.

The young adult was three weeks into a four-week Recruit Orientation Course. Fellow recruits said Connor suffered more ‘thrashings than colleagues’ and described a ‘hostile atmosphere’ towards recruits.

The coroner returned a verdict of suicide. A Royal Navy spokesman said: ‘Our personnel are our most valued asset and we take the condition of their health and wellbeing extremely seriously.’