Kingswinford officer cadet found dead at Sandhurst, inquest hears

Olivia Perks was discovered at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Berkshire on February 6.

The 21-year-old, who lived in Kingswinford, was in her last term at the elite training college when tragedy struck. A provisional cause of death was given as asphyxia due to hanging, the hearing at Berkshire Coroner’s Office in Reading was told.

The former Summerhill School pupil, known to friends as Livvie, worked as a teenager at Waitrose in Wolverhampton.

Paying tribute, a former colleague said: “Everyone knew it was her ambition to join the Army. She was so proud when she passed exams to get into Sandhurst, and now we find out she has taken her own life. She was just 21. We are devastated.”

Olivia also played rugby for Dudley Kingswinford RFC and later helped to coach youngsters in the under-15s squad.

Staff and former team mates said they were heartbroken to learn of her death.

While still at school, aged 15, Olivia completed a week-long engineering course at RAF Cosford, earning a silver CREST award for Creativity in Science Engineering and Technology.

The residential course, organised by the Royal Air Force to encourage more young women to consider careers in engineering, saw her working on a Jet Provost aircraft, rigging up radio equipment and using sophisticated radar tracking devices.

She started at Sandhurst, where all British Army officers are taught the responsibilities of leading soldiers during a 44-week course, just last year.

Ms Perks, whose father attended the two-minute hearing, was identified on the day she was found by Sergeant Major Richard Pask, the hearing was told.

Senior Berkshire coroner Heidi Connor adjourned the inquest to a date yet to be confirmed “to investigate and determine the size of the case”.

Her funeral will take place on Friday at St Mary’s Church, Oldswinford, Stourbridge.