Army failed my officer son, says England legend Butcher
Iraq veteran, 35, found dead after long battle with PTSD
FORMER England football captain Terry Butcher accused the Army of betraying troubled servicemen yesterday after his ex- soldier son died following a long battle with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Christopher Butcher, 35, turned to alcohol and drugs after being discharged from the Army in 2015.
The captain in the Royal Artillery, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was plagued by flashbacks and nightmares about comrades and civilians being killed.
He had split from his wife Laura and had been living with his parents for a year in Bawdsey, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, when Mr Butcher Snr, 59, found him wedged between the bed and the wall in his bedroom on October 16 last year. A post-mortem examination failed to find the cause of death but revealed he had an enlarged heart which could have been caused by drug use, an inquest in Ipswich heard.
Toxicology reports also showed he had cocaine and heroin in his system, as well as prescription drugs he had taken for several years. A makeshift crack pipe was found concealed in his room.
Suffolk assistant coroner Dr Dan Sharpstone yesterday recorded a verdict of dying from an enlarged heart due to uncertain causes but with a background of drug use and PTSD.
Mr Butcher, who attended the hearing with his son’s widow, fought back tears as he said: ‘Christopher passed away several months ago but in reality the Chris that we all knew and loved had ceased to exist years before.
‘Diagnosed with severe posttraumatic stress disorder, his life spiralled downwards as the demons took control of his mind. In truth, after intense tours of Iraq and Afghanistan he became a victim of war. The circumstances are all too familiar. Our country has a number of veterans suffering from the same condition, released from the Armed Forces too early and having to rely on an overloaded NHS that is ill- equipped and underfunded to cope.
‘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, which has resulted in a growing number of our veterans turning to anything that might help – including alcohol, drugs and suicide.’
His son should be remembered as ‘a hero who so proudly served his country and who paid the ultimate price’, added the former Ipswich Town and Rangers defender, who won 77 caps for his country.
Christopher died three days after being discharged from the Woodlands psychiatric unit at Ipswich Hospital. Dr Wendy Hale, who works at the clinic, said: ‘He felt guilt and shame over things he was involved with in Afghanistan.’
The Ministry of Defence said: ‘We are committed to providing troops and veterans with the care they deserve and this year have increased spending on mental health to over £22 million a year, have set up a new veterans’ taskforce, and launched a 24-hour helpline.’
‘His life spiralled downwards’