By funding horse therapy centre plan
It was after he left his action-filled life that Thomas started on the terrible spiral of decline. Sleep was alien to him, too, as he struggled to adapt to a peaceful reality.
“He’d say he’d been used to having to try to sleep every night with a gun by his side, not knowing who might come in and who to trust.
“He couldn’t let that go. It was terrible, he couldn’t settle. His temper would flare up at the slightest thing.
“He was at boiling point and the anger was raging in him – and he had bad depression as well as the drink and drugs.”
It got to that lowest of low points when he stood on that clifftop, ready to end it all.
Ellen is convinced that only the thought of the impact on his young son Heath, now four, and partner Hazel made him step back.
Out of nowhere, with no horse experience, he decided that getting a horse could make a difference.
Thomas sold up his house in Blairgowrie and bought an abandoned cattle farm near Powmill. He’s now living in a caravan there with Hazel and Heath.
Over the past year, with Ellen and Harry’s financial backing he has been taking courses with renowned “horse whisperer” Monty Roberts, learning everything he can about the animals’ healing powers.
With the farm lying derelict, Thomas has been trying to raise funds to get it in shape to open as Warrior Ranch.
A roof needs to be put on an old barn to act as an inside ring.
Just £20,000, says Ellen, would be a godsend to get it up and running.
And the extended family rallied round yesterday, with about 30 gathering from all over the country to help with a massive clean-up operation. Ellen’s commitment has been relentless, receiving a letter back from Prime Minister Theresa May just last week promising to look into the possibilities.
Applications for charitable status have been filed and other service personnel charities contacted to offer to work together.
“I’m not living in dreamland, I know everything isn’t rosy in Thomas’s world,” adds Ellen.
“He’s found a new focus in life but we know he’s still got a long way to go in his recovery.
“I know Harry and I will have to keep investing. We’re not rich but if we can’t make this work, he’s lost everything.
“We’ll plough in everything. Even if we have to sell our house.
“It’s all very well having a nice house and money in the bank, but that means nothing when you have a son who has thought about taking his own life and still needs us.”
Thomas knows the backing of his parents has been invaluable and he’s driven by the desire to save others from desperation.
“There are thousands of veterans out there suffering,” said Thomas.
“As an ex-combat veteran I can help these guys and girls get out of the maze that is PTSD with the power of the horse leading the way to recovery.”
To donate, visit www.justgiving. com/crowdfunding/tamcarroll