PUPILS and staff at a top private school have been left in shock after the death of a sixth form boarder who was found hanging in her bedroom.

Hei Tung Chan, aged 18, from Hong Kong, was discovered by a teacher at the private Monmouth School for Girls on Wednesday, February 5, and died at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny four days later.

An inquest into the death of Ms Chan, who was known as Joy, was opened at Newport Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, February 18.

Senior coroner Caroline Saunders said Ms Chan was pronounced “brain stem dead” at the hospital and passed away on February 9.

Jessica Miles, Monmouth School for Girls headteacher, described her as a “lovely, warm and talented” student.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our students. Hei Tung Chan (Joy) was a lovely, warm, talented part of our school community and she will be sorely missed by us all,” she said.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to her parents and family, and are supporting them at this tragic time. We are offering pastoral care to our pupils and have professional counsellors on hand to help them come to terms with this devastating loss.”

The inquest was adjourned to September 11, 2020.