Army ‘let down’ soldier who died in fall
The family of a soldier who died after falling from a seventh-floor balcony following a night out with friends during which he was pepper sprayed believe that he was “let down” by the army.
Corporal Ryan Lovatt, 25, died on August 1, 2019 when he fell from a balcony at Comfort City Hotel in Warsaw, Poland, just after 4am.
The soldier, from Torrance, Eastdunbartonshire,hadbeen drinking at a cocktail bar with comradesandaninquestheard hewasbelievedtohavebecome "disorientated".
An inquest heard Cpl Lovatt had been pepper sprayed by a bouncer and told a colleague he was unable to see.
He was serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and had been deployed for diplomatic services with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
Senior coroner for Oxfordshire, Darren Salter, told an inquest at Oxford Coroners' Court that he believed a sober person should have been part of the party.
He issued a Prevention of Future Deaths order in a bid to mitigate a similar tragedy, recording a verdict of accidental death.
Cpl Lovatt’s family told yesterday how they felt he was "let down by those he trusted".
He grew up in a military family and was described by relatives as "a pleasure" to be around, and a dedicated soldier who was proud to serve in the army.
The family said: "The day Ryan died our lives changed forever.
"Ryan excelled as a member of the British Armed Forces, he chose to follow in his father's footsteps and join the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
"Ryan was a born soldier and had so much promise.
"Whilst in Poland he had already gained his 'Spurs' during several gruelling exercises conducted by the American Forces, one of only a few to gain this prestigious honour.
"Ryan had a gift in that he brought a smile to everyone who had the pleasure of his company.
"Ryan's avoidable death has left emptiness not only with his family but to everyone
who knew him. The world is certainly a darker place since this wonderful young man's life was taken too soon.”