‘More should have been done’ to help PTSD-suicide dad
DYLAN Jones served in the armed forces for 18 years and served on tours in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq as a member of the Welsh Guards, 14 Signal Regiment and Royal Welch Fusiliers.
But his impressive career in the forces took an emotional toll.
One friend died in his arms after being shot. A number of others were killed by an explosive device.
Sick of suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), on July 4, 2015, the 37-year-old, of Llansawel, Carmarthenshire, drove to the top of a mountain and took his own life – leaving twin children behind.
Now 10-year-old Malachai and Faith’s mother, his former partner Amanda Edwards, believes more should have been done to help him cope with the condition that plagued him.
Ms Edwards, 44, of Ceredigion, said: “Dylan was in the Army for 18 years. When he left he was on the NHS waiting list.
“He couldn’t hang on, he was in a terrible state and he needed help. We split up because of the way he was but we had a good friendship for the twins.
“He started off in Northern Ireland, joined the Army when he was 16, and while out there his friend got shot and died in his arms. A couple of years later he went to Iraq and Afghanistan. Up until then he said our son was going to be a soldier.
“When he came back the last time he said Malachai would never join the forces because he was traumatised.
“I knew the PTSD was bad when he said ‘I am frightened to have the twins’ because he was getting angry, I knew he was in a bad way.
“He just really struggled, he was drinking a lot and was a shell of himself.
“Dylan was very deep. He started to talk about incidents in Afghanistan. He went over an IED and four of his friends were killed.
“He pulled one of his friends from underneath the vehicle and there was nothing below his waist.”
Speaking about Dylan’s death and the effect it has had on their children, Amanda said it was “unfair” that Malachai and Faith have to grow up without a father.
She said: “It was horrific, it was the worst news I have ever had.”
Malachai and Faith recently attended a party a Buckingham Palace, hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, for children of parents who have died in the armed forces.
Speaking about the event, Amanda said: “It was a lovely day but a sad day. It was nice for the children to know they are not on their own.
“In the beginning they thought they were the only ones.”
Amanda is now keen to raise awareness surrounding PTSD and is urging anyone suffering to seek help and not give up.
“I would ask people to seek help, definitely,” she said. “There’s help out there now, there’s not a lot and the NHS waiting list is ridiculous, but don’t give up, talk to your family because it’s horrific thinking and knowing (Dylan)’s not coming back.
“My children want their daddy and they can’t have him.”