Chris dies at home he shared with ex-Ranger dad
RANGERS hero Terry Butcher has been left devastated by the death of his soldier son.
Chris Butcher’s body was found on Monday morning at the house he shared with former Scotland assistant manager Terry, 58, and mum Rita, 58.
Afghanistan war veteran Chris, 35, had recently separated from his wife after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Terry was too upset to talk about the tragedy last night but Chris’s brother Ed, 32, paid tribute to his “best friend”.
Ed posted a photo on Facebook of his brother in Army fatigues and a bottle of Glenlivet whisky next to two part-drunk tumblers.
He wrote: “Chris you were my hero, you were my best friend and you were someone I would throw myself in the way of a truck for.
“This is for you and thank you for everything you ever taught me and I will miss you for the rest of my life but you will never be forgotten.”
Police say Chris’s death is not being treated as suspicious.
He had served in Afghanistan with the Royal Artillery and reached the rank of captain.
Chris’s regiment was part of the Herrick 10 offensive which claimed British lives in 2009.
But he left the forces and was living with his parents after moving out of the house he shared with wife of eight years Laura, 39, in Lowton, Manchester. In an interview three years ago, Terry, who played 77 times for England and managed Motherwell and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, spoke of Chris’s troubles.
He became overcome with emotion as he said: “Unfortunately Chris is not in a good way right now.
“When he told me about going into that compound in Afghanistan, feeling the bullets pinging off his helmet, well…”
Chris, who had another brother, Alistair, 27 , was found “not breathing” at his parents’ home in Bawdsey, Suffolk, shortly after 7am.
Former Rangers captain and Ipswich defender Terry would only say: “I can’t say anything at the moment, it’s still very fresh.”
Ed described Chris as the “best brother”, adding: “His death has hit the entire family hard.
“The family are together and we will release the dates of the funeral in due time.
“We know how greatly he was loved and we’re sorry that we can’t call every person who knew him to tell them.”
Chris joined the Army in 2016 and completed a tour of Iraq in 2006/7.
He was in Afghanistan throughout Op Herrick 10 in 2009 but left the army in April 2015.
On his Facebook page, Chris told how he “left the Army” and describes himself as “just a moody bitter vet”.
He also posted a picture saying: “You’ll never have friends like the ones you made at war.”
It is understood he recently started studying Military History at university and had hoped to teach the subject in the future.
Friends said his PTSD had prompted him and primary school teacher Laura to spend time apart.
One said: “He told us they still loved each other very much but they were having a trial separation.
“Because of his condition, PTSD, they were finding it difficult living together. But he said he still loved her and they wanted to stay together.”