Rugby-crazy teenage girl, 17 – whose mother was hugged by the Princess of Wales weeks after she gave her a pair of earrings in memory of her daughter – was found hanged at home weeks earlier, the inquest says
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A rugby-crazy teenage girl whose death prompted a gift to the Princess of Wales was found hanged in her home, an inquest heard today has revealed.
Isobelle Phipps, 17, died suddenly on April 29 at the family property in Crowthorne, Berkshire, after struggling with depression.
Weeks after the tragedy, her mother, Sarah Renton, shared an emotional moment with Kate when she came to visit her daughter’s old rugby club in Maidenhead for a charity appeal.
She hugged the princess and told her about Isobelle, known as Issy, before giving her a pair of earrings made by a friend of the family.
Kate insisted she wear the jewelry at a later date in memory of Issy.
Isobelle Phipps, 17, died suddenly on April 29 at the family property in Crowthorne, Berkshire, after struggling with depression
Weeks after the tragedy, her mother, Sarah Renton, shared an emotional moment with Kate when she came to visit her daughter’s old rugby club in Maidenhead for a charity appeal.
She gave the princess a hug and told her about Isobelle, known as Issy, before giving her a pair of earrings made by a friend of the family.
Berkshire coroner Heidi Connor told an inquest today that Issy’s body had been found identified to the police by her neighbor and a cause of death following a post-mortem examination by histopathologist Mathilda Ralph was imposed as a suspension.
The circumstances surrounding Issy’s death are still being investigated by the police and so a full investigation has not yet been scheduled.
A talented rugby player, Issy joined her local girls’ team at Maidenhead RFC in 2009 at the age of four, playing in the under-six squad for the first time.
She then went on to play for Reading RFC in 2012 before joining at provincial level playing touch rugby for the England under-18s team at the 2022 European Championships in Vichy, France where the team won gold medals.
At the time of her death, Reading RFC paid tribute to her saying, ‘Issy was rugby mad and was always a vibrant member of the side and will be truly missed. We will continue to support all club members affected by this news in any way we can.”
England Touch also wrote on social media: ‘Issy was part of the Girls 18s England team and played at the 2022 Junior Touch Championships where she won gold in a dramatic match.
“Issy was a much loved member of the Girls 18s squad and many in our community have spoken not only of her passion and love of rugby and touch but of her desire to share that passion with her peers and those under she.’
- For confidential support, call the Samaritans at 116123 or visit a local Samaritans chapter, see www.samaritans.org for more information