England star Butcher: Army failed my dead war hero son
FOOTBALL legend Terry Butcher yesterday told the Armed Forces to do more to support veterans after his son died “a victim of war” after battling severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
Army captain Chris Butcher, 35, witnessed horrors in tours of Iraq and Afghanistan with the Royal Artillery.
His dad Terry, 59, fought back tears outside an inquest when he urged military chiefs “to look after their people”.
Chris “Butch” Butcher was forced to leave the Army in 2015 when his experiences began to affect him mentally, Ipswich Coroner’s Court heard.
He turned to drugs and alcohol to deal with flashbacks, hallucinations and voices in his head.
Christopher “was attacked day and night by an enemy” the hearing was told.
He died from an enlarged heart “of unknown causes” after taking heroin, but expert witnesses said drugs in his system were not at a toxic level.
Terry Butcher found his son in a bedroom of the family home in Woodbridge, Suffolk, last October, where he had been living after his marriage broke down.
“His life spiralled downwards as the demons took control of his mind,” the former England captain told reporters.
“In truth, after intense tours of Iraq and Afghanistan he became a victim of war. These circumstances are all too familiar.
“Our country has many veterans suffering from the same situation – released from the Armed Forces too early and having to rely on an overloaded NHS that is ill-equipped and underfunded to cope.”
He added: “Our Armed Forces have a duty to look after their people – before, during and after active service – but this responsibility has been discarded too easily.
“This results in a growing number of our veterans turning to anything that will help, including alcohol, drugs and suicide, as a means of alleviating the flashbacks, nightmares and voices.”
Mr Butcher, who was joined at the inquest by his son’s widow Laura, 40, and his father Leonard, 81, added: “Christopher had a glittering career in the Army ahead of him, a loving wife and dreams of having children of his own.
Haunted
“His unnecessary death has deprived us of a wonderful son, brother and grandson, friend and comrade. He touched the hearts of all who met him.
“As a family we ask that he be remembered as a hero who so proudly served his country and who paid the ultimate price for his bravery.
“We also ask that our country considers what is the right support we should provide our heroes and victims of war.”
The hearing was told heard how Christopher was haunted by intense voices telling him to kill himself and flashbacks to an explosion. He hallucinated a burning smell which would sometimes make him wake up gagging and retching. Suffolk assistant coroner Dr Dan Sharpstone read out medical reports which said: “During this incident he had seen other soldiers being injured and this had caused him distress.
“He heard the voices of an Afghan girl screaming and an Army major screaming. The Army major told him to kill himself or he would hurt other people.”
Dr Sharpstone said: “When people serve in the Armed Forces they give everything in the defence of our country. This may result in death or severe physical injury. It may also result in the development of serious mental illness.
“I suspect Christopher was attacked day and night by an enemy he couldn’t see, in his war without end.”
The coroner recorded a verdict of death due to cardiomegaly of uncertain cause combined with drug use and posttraumatic stress disorder.
The Royal Artillery was part of “Herrick 10”, a notorious Afghan war offensive. Fighting raged between May and October 2009, when records show 71 British servicemen died.