Why didn’t the Army help SAS medic? It’s a disgrace Who Dares Wins star calls for centre of excellence to help veterans with PTSD
SAS Who Dares Wins star Mark Billingham has slammed the Government’s failure to combat veterans’ suicides as a “disgrace”.
The SAS hero turned telly celeb, known as Billy, hit out in the wake of our exclusive story last week on the death of special forces medic Jamie Ferguson.
Jamie, a staff sergeant who had served tough combat tours and saved hundreds of lives, shot himself at 36 after battling stress and pleading in vain for help.
His death prompted pleas by his widow Sammi and MPs for action, including setting up a centre of excellence for veterans’ mental wellbeing.
Backing the calls for much more to be done Billy, 53, said: “SSgt Ferguson was obviously in a very bad way and needed help so why didn’t he get it?
“Why are so many veterans and soldiers killing themselves? Why are they not getting help with PTSD or other mental health problems?
“It’s an absolute tragedy. You are not going to prevent all deaths but surely the MoD and the Army can do far more. There is obviously a lack of duty of care.”
Billy spent 27 years in the Parachute Regiment and the SAS and faced “pretty nasty” situations many times, including being shot in the face and having comrades die in his arms.
He has become a household name on the Channel 4 show along with former special forces co-stars Ant Middleton, Jason Fox and Olly Ollerton.
Billy said personnel and veterans were meant to be protected by the Armed Forces Covenant but added: “With over 200 suicides since 2017, that’s a difficult number to get your head around.
“It’s clear that the MoD doesn’t care – once you are out of the door you are not their problem.
“The MoD doesn’t know how many veterans are killing themselves and that’s disgraceful. That disgusts me.” Billy went on: “This country needs a centre of excellence to help with veterans and serving soldiers who are struggling with mental health problems.
“Part of the problem is that there are too many agencies dealing with mental health, which is too confusing. The idea of a mothership where soldiers could go to get help is a great one.”
DANGEROUS
Billy – given an MBE for leading a mission in Iraq to rescue a British hostage and the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery for capturing an IRA sniper – said he that was willing to do anything necessary to help traumatised veterans.
But the tough ex-soldier, who has worked as a bodyguard for A-list celebs including Tom Cruise, admitted that at one time he did not believe in PTSD.
He said: “I’ve been involved in a lot of stuff. I’ve been shot, blown up, numerous occasions when I could have been killed. But none of it affected me.
“Then a friend of mine who had been in the SAS got PTSD and started crying. I couldn’t handle it and I realised then it was very real and very dangerous.”
SSgt Ferguson killed himself after recording a video saying he had pleaded for help but “nobody listened”.
News of his death at Leuchars military base in Fife, Scotland, was broken to his wife Sammi, a mum of three, at her home in Kirkcaldy by police.
Billy said: “Soldiers and veterans don’t want sympathy, they just need help from people who understand them. Sympathy is our worst enemy.”
Defence minister Johnny Mercer said the MoD was determined to do all it could to tackle the issue.
He added: “There are ongoing studies to better understand the number of ex-Service personnel who take their lives and there is a range of help available.”