Marine trainee from Norfolk killed himself in Devon, inquest concludes

The inquest in Exeter heard fellow recruits describe a “hostile atmosphere” between them and instructors who would shout and swear and hand out group thrashings for collective mistakes.

Fellow recruits said he had suffered more “thrashings” – a type of physical punishment like running or press ups – than anyone else.

The officer in charge, Major Mark Thrift, denied he had called Mr Clark the “worst recruit”, but accepted he told him he was failing the course.

Able Seaman Chris Lee, who was on the same course, rejected claims the teenager had been a target of bullying by instructors.

“I wouldn’t say he was singled out or targeted any more than the rest of the troop,” he said.

Two days before Mr Clark died, he had gone to the sick bay for treatment for a wound to his elbow.

The inquest heard he had self-harmed by using a knife to reopen the wound.