A Royal Marine recruit from Norfolk who was found dead on a railway line may have been worried about losing his upcoming leave after misplacing a piece of kit for his rifle, an inquest has heard.

Connor Clark, 18, had been going to spend the weekend in Exeter when his body was discovered on the tracks opposite the commando training centre in Lympstone, Devon, on the morning of June 12, 2021.

The teenager was three weeks into a four-week recruit orientation phase course that all Marines undertake before they begin their initial training.

READ MORE: Inquest begins after Norfolk teen found dead on rail line

The inquest in Exeter has heard Mr Clark had made comments about being told by the staff he was a “failure” and was the “worst recruit” and had also misplaced a blank firing adapter for his rifle.

Officers have told the inquest there would not have been any consequences for Mr Clark for losing the £40 device.

Giving evidence, Able Seaman Chris Lee, who had become friends with Mr Clark during the course, rejected claims the teenager had been a target of bullying by instructors.

Mr Lee said: “I wouldn’t say he was singled out or targeted any more than the rest of the troop was.” 

The inquest heard Mr Clark “struggled” with organising his personal kit and had failed inspections as a result.

The witness told the court there were tensions between recruits, with two or three being aggressive towards each other.

READ MORE: Mum's tribute to 'amazing' son amid mental health plea

Mr Lee said he never saw Mr Clark being singled out by other recruits and said the instructors would shout and swear at times but were doing their job.

He told the court he had personally suffered around 20 “thrashings”, meaning punishments of physical exercise, during his time at the ROP.

Simon Quinn, Partner and Head of Military at Hilary Meredith Solicitors the firm representing Mrs Clark said: “This is a very sad case and unfortunately yet another example of a young life lost too soon.

"After delays by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and following a long wait for an Inquest date; we hope that the Inquest will finally provide Mrs Clark with the answers she needs and deserves and that the MoD’s actions, inactions and failings are brought to light, so that lessons can be learnt and future loss of life avoided.

"The Inquest will be told that those failings include failure to engage mental health services, failure to engage with other statutory and/or emergency services; failure to monitor CCTV and failure to check the perimeter fencing.

"In short failure to take obvious and reasonable steps that may have prevented this tragedy."

The inquest continues.