Inquest begins over Leading Aircraftman Gary Sargeant’s death after being left unsupervised while under the Mental Health Act

Military Police who initially refused to release the photo of a missing Airforce serviceman – because it showed his uniform – is just one of the issues being heard in a believed suicide inquest.

A Leading Aircraftman was left unsupervised under the Mental Health Act before he is believed to have committed suicide, an inquest has heard.

An inquest is investigating whether the death of Gary Sargeant, 36, could have been prevented if medical staff had better understanding of procedures to follow.

Opening the inquest on Tuesday, counsel assisting Darren Evans said Mr Sargeant joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 2008 at age 24.

In December 2019, Mr Sargeant was posted to the No 462 Squadron at Edinburgh in the Cyber Vulnerability Investigation Team, which was his “dream job”.

The court heard Mr Sargeant fell off an electric skateboard around April 2020 and required surgery to his foot and time off work, leading to him feel isolated.

On September 9, 2020, Mr Sargeant who was exhibiting symptoms of paranoia presented to the Joint Military Police Station and then the Edinburgh Health Centre for assessment.

The inquest heard Military Police initially refused to release Mr Sargeant’s ID photo as it showed his uniform. Pic: SAPOL

After being assessed by two mental health professionals and determined as high risk of self harm by one and medium risk by another, he was placed under section 56 of the Mental Health Act.

The inquest heard the doctor said he should be supervised until an ambulance could arrive to take him to hospital.

Mr Sargeant then followed a nurse to a communal area of the Health Centre and asked her to get him a phone charger.

“When she came back again he was gone,” Mr Evans said.

The court heard it took 22 minutes for a nurse to notify the Joint Military Police Station as she couldn’t get an external line, by which time Mr Sargeant had already left the base.

It also took an hour to work out Mr Sargeant left because CCTV had to be reviewed and it wasn’t known what car he was driving.

As searches for him commenced, SAPOL sought permission from the Military Police to use a photo from Mr Sargeant’s ID badge.

“This was refused because he was in uniform,” Mr Evans said.

The court heard it was not until 11.45am the next day that the ID photo was cropped and provided to SAPOL for a missing persons post.

The court heard Mr Sargeant’s body was eventually found on breakwater rocks at Outer Harbour by a boater.

Post-mortem examination concluded that he had drowned with no signs of struggle or violence.

Examination of his residence and devices revealed strong suicidal intent.

Gary Sargeant's sister Casey White and mother Bonnie Sargeant leaving the inquest. Photo: Lucy Rutherford

Mr Evans said the inquest would investigate the apparent confusion about the powers available and procedures to follow in regards to a mental health episode at Edinburgh, medical staff training and limitations around the psychologist’s assessment.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, psychologist Kathleen Mansfield told the court she had a session with Mr Sargeant on September 8, 2020 after receiving an urgent referral.

However, Ms Mansfield said she couldn’t access Mr Sargeant's referral documents before his appointment as they were locked with a code.

Ms Mansfield said if she knew about Mr Sargeant’s suicidal ideation – which was discussed in the referral – she would have declined to book the appointment without being able to read it first.

The inquest before Deputy State Coroner Naomi Kereru continues.

Originally published as Inquest begins over Leading Aircraftman Gary Sargeant’s death after being left unsupervised while under the Mental Health Act