A British trainee pilot has been found dead at a United States Navy base in Texas, with an inquest hearing that he suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
Costas Georgellis, 24, died on 29 April at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Nueces County, where he was undergoing fighter pilot training. An inquest held in West London heard that his death bore the “hallmarks of suicide”, according to reports in The Sun.
Richard Furniss, assistant coroner for West London, is reported to have made the comment during the preliminary hearing but did not confirm whether a criminal investigation had been launched in the US. The inquest has now been adjourned while British authorities await further information from American officials.
Originally from Buckinghamshire, Mr Georgellis was a graduate of Loughborough University and a passionate hockey player. He had been training at the US base as part of his ambition to fly military aircraft.
His funeral took place on 31 May in Amersham, where mourners were encouraged to wear colours that represented the many aspects of his life rather than traditional black. Suggested colours included red, white, and blue, reflecting the flags of the UK, the US, and his hockey club, as well as purple in honour of his time at Loughborough.
A tribute page described Mr Georgellis as someone who “lived an amazing life, full of adventure, always pursuing his dreams with determination and bravery”. His parents, who still live in Buckinghamshire, wrote that his “infectious laugh” and “kind heart” made the world a better place and that he would “never be forgotten”.
In the wake of his death, the family launched a fundraiser in his memory, raising over £2,300 for the mental health charity Mind and the Brandon Caserta Foundation, a US-based organisation supporting military personnel struggling with mental health issues.
Loughborough University’s hockey team expressed their sorrow on social media, calling Mr Georgellis “a cherished part of our club” and remembering him for his “kindness, welcoming spirit and of course his backhand hit through his legs”.
The circumstances of his death remain under investigation, with further updates expected once US authorities provide additional details.
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