Missing airman had history of binge drinking, court told

THE missing RAF airman Corrie Mckeague developed a “significant bingedrinking problem” after discovering his friend’s dead body as a teenager, an inquest has heard.

Mr Mckeague was 23 when he vanished in September 2016 after a night out in Bury St Edmunds.

Police believe he climbed into a bin to sleep before it was tipped into a waste lorry. His body has never been found.

An inquest into his death heard how the airman, who was stationed at RAF Honington, was the first person to find his friend’s body after they had been killed on a train line aged 15.

Martin Mckeague, his father, told Suffolk coroner’s court: “Corrie was a happy child, however there were major events that shaped his life.

“At the age of 15, when he was first to find the body of his friend who had just been killed on a train line, I believe Corrie developed a significant binge-drinking problem.

“In his teenage years that impacted his emotional wellbeing and mired many of his relationships.”

He said the death of his son’s friend “was a terrible shock for a 15-year-old boy to suffer, and one I don’t think he ever truly got over”.

Nicola Urquhart, the airman’s mother, agreed that the event had a huge impact on him, but said that despite being prescribed antidepressants in the past, he was “back to his usual happy self ” by 2015.

She said her son “regularly lost his phone or wallet on nights out” but “was

‘It was a terrible shock for a 15-year-old boy to suffer, and one I don’t think he ever truly got over’

never aggressive with or without alcohol”. She said that “if a stranger asked him to get into his boot to go to a party” she believed that he would go.

“There was nothing to suggest Corrie had any problems or concerns around the time of his disappearance,” she said.

“Despite what’s in the press, as far as I’m aware Corrie had never slept in a bin nor had he ever climbed into a bin to sleep,” Ms Urquhart said.

The inquest continues.