Inquest into death of RAF veteran whose body was found at recreation ground

AN RAF veteran found dead at a New Forest recreation ground on New Year’s Day took his own life, an inquest heard.

Winchester Coroner’s Court was told Phillip Cavill (31) had suffered from depression and anxiety after leaving the RAF in 2017. His body was found 1st January this year at Gang Warily in Fawley.

During his nine-year stint in the force he served as a military policeman, guarding bases in Iraq, Scotland and Cyprus.

Coroner Jason Pegg revealed Phillip, who had lived in Liverpool, arranged to stay with his sister, Melissa, and her partner at their home in Roebuck Close, Holbury, in October last year.

Wanting to “work on himself” he had secured a new job as a Tesco delivery driver, completed a doorman’s certificate and joined a gym.

But he still experienced issues of low self-esteem and before Christmas he messaged his mother to say he was struggling, had suicidal thoughts and felt “hollow and numb”.

Melissa said in a statement that she and her partner went to Bath to celebrate the New Year. When she last saw Phillip on the morning of 31st December he seemed “fine”.

When they returned home at 5.30pm on 1st January the house was empty and Phillip had left a note.

The coroner said Phillip suffered depression and low self-esteem, had attempted suicide twice and also been admitted to a psychiatric ward for a spell.

Mr Pegg said after leaving the RAF Mr Cavill lived in Hungary with his girlfriend but struggled to adapt and learn the language, and had returned to the UK.

He explained Phillip’s body was found close to the pond at Gang Warily on New Year’s morning by dog walker Jennifer Symons. She called an ambulance and police.

Investigators said Phillip was wearing appropriate clothing for a cold night and found no external injuries or evidence of a third party involved in Phillip’s death. There were other items at the scene, including a bottle nearby.

Toxicologist Dr Sanjay Jogai said an internal examination revealed recreational levels of cannabis in his system.

But there were toxic levels of a drug found on the bottle near Phillip’s body, and analysis of Phillip’s phone showed he had researched methods of suicide, the coroner noted. He had purchased the drug over the “dark web”, Mr Pegg stated.

Summing up, Mr Pegg reached a conclusion of suicide. “[From] the lengthy note Phillip left it’s evident to me, I’m quite sure, that when Phillip took the [drug] in Gang Warily recreation centre on 1st January he knew what he was doing. He knew the likely outcome would be the end of his life.”