British Army soldier took own life amid demotion fears - coroner

A soldier took her own life hours after getting into a dispute with a colleague which she feared could lead to her being demoted, a coroner has ruled. Royal Artillery Bombardier Nadine Askew, 31, was discovered dead in her room at Larkhill Garrison in Wiltshire in 2021. An inquest into her death heard she had previously been placed on a vulnerability risk management register (VRM) due to incidents of self harm and was removed from this list 10 days before her death and approved for deployment. In his findings, area coroner Ian Singleton said: "The fact that Nadine took her own life following the altercation does not mean it was a failure in the care previously provided." He added it "would not be safe to conclude" Askew should have been placed on the VRM - which comes with mental health support - following the altercation and "it would be speculation to say what difference" any extra measures would have made. Askew, from Sunderland, had served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Royal Artillery. Speaking after the inquest, her mother described her as a "kind, caring woman with an infectious smile". Giving evidence about the evening before Askew's death, Bombardier Lucy C