A city university is mourning the tragic deaths of two students just a week apart.

Post-graduate Jessica Small, 26, was found at her home near the University of Kent campus in Canterbury on Friday, October 11.

Seven days later, police were called to a property in University Road, where the body of 18-year-old Conor Chambers was discovered.

An inquest opened into the death of Miss Small on Monday, with a post-mortem examination revealing the cause as hanging.

The hearing into Mr Chamber’s death opened yesterday.

The court heard that campus security officers found the teenager, from Chertsey in Surrey, in his room at Keynes College in Canterbury.

A pathologist gave the cause of death as hanging.

Coroner Catherine Wood adjourned the inquest until January 16.

The university is said to be liaising with and supporting Mr Chambers’ family and cannot comment further at this stage.

Miss Small was found at her accommodation at the Annexe in Whitstable Road.

She was a graduate teaching assistant at the university’s School of Anthropology and Conservation, where staff and students have been deeply saddened by her death.

A university spokesman said: “It is with great sadness and regret that we can confirm the death of Jess Small, a third-year PhD student.

“Jess was known for her exceptional teaching skills and was a valued member of both her research group and her School.

“A range of support has been offered to her fellow students and staff.

“Our sympathy and condolences are with Jess’s family and friends at this most difficult time.”

Miss Small, who was originally from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, had achieved first-class honours in her physical and biological anthropology degree at the University of Kent.

She then completed a masters degree in bio-archaeological and forensic anthropology at University College London.

Her PhD thesis was titled “The forensic anthropology of burnt human juvenile teeth: a histological and scanning electron microscope approach”.

University spokesman Gary Hughes says anyone who has been affected by the deaths is being encouraged to seek support either through student support officers or the university’s student support and wellbeing service.

“We also remind them that the university’s Chaplaincy and Canterbury Nightline are available to them,” he added.

If you need help on an emotional issue you can call the Samaritans free, at any time, on 116 123.

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