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

A nurse had her concerns about a RAAF serviceman being left unsupervised ignored just minutes before he is believed to have died by suicide.

A nurse expressed concerns about a RAAF serviceman being left unsupervised while under the Mental Health Act just minutes before he left and drowned, believed to be from suicide.

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 last week, 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 feeling isolated.

On September 9, 2020, Mr Sargeant, 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. Picture: 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. Mr Sargeant then followed a nurse to a communal area of the Health Centre and asked her to get him a phone charger, but when she returned he was gone.

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

Post-mortem examination concluded he had drown­ed, with no signs of struggle or ­violence. Examination of his residence and devices revealed strong suicidal intent.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, mental health intake nurse Natalie Jackson said she was not comfortable when she heard another nurse left Mr Sargeant in the dining room alone.

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

“It wasn’t our normal process, we would never take them down there, unless they were a low risk and even then I’d prefer to keep them up the top (to) keep an eye on them,” she said.

Ms Jackson said when she questioned the other nurse about it she told her the doctor who assessed Mr Sargeant told her he was happy for him to be down there as he appeared “much more settled”.

She said she continued to question the nurse after she left Mr Sargeant alone twice to get him a phone charger and was told both times it was OK and she would only be five minutes.

The inquest continues.

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