An officer cadet died in a car after shooting himself.

Edward Robert Stent Milner, 26, died on the A286 near Henley.

He was the only occupant of the vehicle which had careered off the road on Monday, May 6.

The young man, from Bepton, near Midhurst, went to boys’ public school Sherborne, in Dorset.

Mr Milner, known as Ed, later studied Economics at Cardiff University.

Opening the inquest into his death, Joanne Andrews, area coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, said the army cadet was found with “self-inflicted gunshot wounds”.

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She read a statement by the coroner’s officer to the court: “Edward Milner died on the A286 near Henley. He was formally identified by PC Aldridge.

“The circumstances reported to me are that he died in his vehicle, having been found with self-inflicted gunshot wounds.”

In a postmortem on May 13, Mr Milner’s cause of death was yet to be ascertained.

Ms Andrews said: “I have reason to suspect his death was unnatural.”

The scene of the incident on May 6The scene of the incident on May 6 (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) The inquest was adjourned for a full hearing on October 8 at 2.30pm.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Emergency services were called to a report of a car having left the carriageway of the A286 near Midhurst at around 6am on Monday, May 6.

“A man in his 20s, the only occupant of the vehicle, was sadly confirmed deceased at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

“The road was closed in both directions while an investigation was carried out. A report was prepared for HM Coroner.”