Training | 2009.09.29
Army cadet died after sniffing solvents
Teenager found unconscious at Highlanders brigade training barracks had been sniffing aerosols, death certificate shows
An army cadet who was found dead in his bunk at a training camp was killed by sniffing solvents in his barracks, his death certificate has revealed.
Jamie Tate, 17, was found unconscious by fellow cadets at the headquarters of 2nd Battalion the Highlanders brigade at Boddam, near Peterhead, this month. The police and army initially believed he died of natural causes.
It has now emerged that Tate, who had loved the "camaraderie of his fellow cadets", had been sniffing aerosols before going to bed on 12 September, and was thought to have been joking around and showing off with other cadets.
His death certificate discloses that he died due to "volatile hydrocarbon intoxication". An army spokesman said: "It was aerosol that he sprayed up his nose, and not drugs. It was substance abuse."
The incident is being investigated by Grampian police and the army, and will raise further questions about the supervision and safety of teenage cadets involved in the Highlanders brigade.
It is the second recent fatality at the cadet unit. Kaylee McIntosh, 14, drowned when an inflatable training craft capsized during an exercise off South Uist in the Hebrides in 2007.
Investigations by a sheriff, the army and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch revealed significant safety failures by the cadet officers in charge of the exercise, which led to a number of reforms of army training. Kaylee was given an adult lifejacket several sizes too large for her, which left her pinned under the upturned hull.
Grampian police would not comment on the death certificate\'s finding and said a report had been submitted last week to the procurator fiscal.
The army said it was supporting the police investigation and was preparing a statement on the evidence of substance abuse on the base.
Two weeks ago Tate\'s mother Donna said the family had been devastated by the teenager\'s death. "Jamie was a loving son, grandson, nephew and cousin. He has been taken from us suddenly and we are devastated by this," she said. "Our lives have been shattered by this unexplained tragedy and Jamie will be hugely missed."
Her son had started studying electrical engineering at college. He had recently been on holiday in Australia and was hoping to return there, his family said. A private funeral was held for Jamie last Friday.
"He had been an active member of the army cadets for the past two years and was enthusiastically involved in their activities. He enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow cadets enormously," Mrs Tate said. "Jamie had so many friends and we have been deeply moved and comforted by the many messages of condolences and kind wishes from them."
Richard Baker, Labour MSP for North East Scotland, said it was difficult to foresee teenagers abusing spray cans, since they were not illegal, but called for the army to think about its educational work and supervision of cadets. "It would be sensible for them to reflect on the incident and see if there\'s work they can do around these issues," he said.
For more information, please visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/sep/29/army-cadet-died-sniffing-solvents
