Paratrooper in Afghanistan fell to his death in Vietnam was waiting to hear if he had PTSD

Peter O'Sullivan, who had seen 'very extreme navy exercise' in Afghanistan throughout ten years within the Parachute Regiment, had been assessed by a psychological well being nurse

A former paratrooper fell to his loss of life from a lodge rooftop whereas ready for a psychiatrist to resolve whether or not he was affected by publish traumatic stress dysfunction, an inquest heard yesterday.

Peter O'Sullivan, who had seen 'very extreme navy exercise' in Afghanistan throughout ten years within the Parachute Regiment, had been assessed by a psychological well being nurse from the Fight Stress charity who felt he may need PTSD. 

The nurse determined to refer him to a advisor psychiatrist - however there was a 4 month ready record for an appointment and Mr O'Sullivan didn't survive till then.

Two months earlier than the appointment he took crystal meth whereas on vacation in Vietnam and fell to his loss of life from the highest of the Liberty Lodge in Ho Ch Minh Metropolis on Feb 13th this 12 months, the Gloucester inquest was instructed.

His household, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, at the moment are hoping the authorities will recognise Mr O'Sullivan's loss of life as a direct consequence of PTSD ensuing from his service within the elite Pathfinder platoon of the Parachute Regiment.

They need his title to be included on the Nationwide Memorial Arboretum - one thing which may solely occur if his loss of life is accepted to have resulted from his navy service.

Mr O'Sullivan had served in Northern Eire, Iraq and Afghanistan and had educated for the SAS. It had left him with anxiousness signs, the Gloucester inquest was instructed.

Final December he had sought assist from Fight Stress and was seen by nurse Ian Coombs, who assessed him and located him to be at excessive danger of self hurt or suicide.

He referred him to a psychiatrist as a result of he believed he could nicely have PTSD however there have been no appointments accessible for 4 months.

Confronted with the wait, Mr O'Sullivan determined to return to Iraq to do a two month stint as an in depth safety officer.

From there he returned briefly to the UK earlier than flying to Vietnam, the place he instructed family he deliberate to take a kite-surfing course.

He by no means went on the course and on Feb 13th fell from his lodge onto the roof of a home and died from a number of accidents.

The assistant Gloucestershire coroner, Dr Simon Fox QC, heard that methamphetamine and one other unknown drug was present in his blood at publish mortem.

Dr Fox dominated there was inadequate proof to justify a conclusion of both suicide or unintentional loss of life.

He recorded merely that 'He died after falling from a tall constructing.'

After the inquest Mr O'Sullivan's household mentioned they had been content material with the discovering and hoped that the proof that he could have had publish traumatic stress dysfunction would lead to his title being listed on the Nationwide Memorial Arboretum.

The assistant Gloucestershire coroner, Dr Simon Fox QC, heard methamphetamine and one other unknown drug was present in his blood. File pic of Gloucestershire Coroners Courtroom

The inquest heard that Mr O'Sullivan, who had married a Thai girl in Bangkok in 2012, had been concerned in a earlier incident when he tried to leap from a lodge roof final September.

It occurred in Bangkok when he took medication and went onto the roof however was prevented from leaping by workers and his spouse.

His sister Angela Cleer instructed the inquest he had at all times needed to be a soldier since boyhood and in 2000 he joined the Parachute Regiment. 

He later grew to become a member of the elite Pathfinder platoon. He left the military in 2010 and began work in shut safety in Iraq.

He married a Thai girl in a Buddhist ceremony in Bangkok in 2012 and all appeared to be going nicely till 2014 when she began to note he 'wasn't good' and issues had been 'not going nicely for him,' she acknowledged.

The wedding was struggling and he was having unhealthy goals, mentioned Mrs Cleer.

'I steered he go and see Fight Stress however he did not present any curiosity in in search of assist.'

She mentioned in September 2015 she spoke to him when he was in Thailand and he had clearly taken medication. He requested her to fly out and get him so she did as a result of she was so involved about him.

'He had taken a number of medication and had been making an attempt to leap off a lodge however his associate and the lodge workers had prevented him from doing so. My understanding was that it was the medication which had made him behave that approach.

'He was very paranoid once we obtained there and mentioned he thought his associate was poisoning him. He additionally thought the police had been after him. '

He returned to the UK along with her and noticed his physician however remained anxious and paranoid, she acknowledged.

The next month he went on vacation along with his dad and mom.

Mrs Cleer mentioned that on Dec three he went to Fight Stress and was assessed by a nurse and he additionally noticed his GP, Dr Andrew Sampson once more. 

He then flew to Iraq on Dec eight for eight weeks work, returning to Stroud for one evening earlier than flying to Vietnam to study kite browsing.

Mrs Cleer mentioned she spoke to him in Ho Ch Minh Metropolis and he mentioned he was bored and had not began the course. He saved placing it off from everyday.

'He by no means hinted at having any intention to hurt himself,' she mentioned.

However he did inform her he had spent evening in jail and he had a bump on the again of his head however he couldn't recall what had occurred.

The household then acquired the information of his deadly fall.

Fight Stress psychological well being nurse Mr Coombs mentioned he assessed Mr O'Sullivan and obtained him to finish a questionnaire designed to seek out out if somebody is a sufferer of publish traumatic stress.

The nurse determined too refer him to a advisor psychiatrist - however there was a 4 month ready record for an appointment and Mr O'Sullivan didn't survive until then

Mr O'Sullivan's complete rating was not excessive sufficient to say that he did have PTSD - however he had indicated strongly that he was considering of self hurt or suicide.

'He additionally mentioned that whereas in Gloucestershire he had been utilizing cocaine and he had used it fairly not too long ago. 

'He didn't allude to utilizing the rest. It's doable that such thrill searching for medication might impair somebody's psychological well being. Crystal meth can also be recognized to trigger paranoia.'

Mr Coombs mentioned Mr O'Sullivan met so most of the PTSD standards that he determined to refer him to a psychiatrist to resolve if he was a sufferer of the dysfunction - however there was no appointment accessible until April.

'I believe he could have had a PTSD however I'm not in a position to diagnose myself and that's the reason I requested him to go to see the advisor psychiatrist,' he mentioned.

'I used to be not asking everybody I noticed to go and see a GP. I felt there was sufficient there for him to somebody who might make the analysis a method or one other.'

Dr Sampson mentioned if Mr O'Sullivan had not been going again to Iraq on Dec eighth he would have put him on anti depressants then. However he didn't need to accomplish that until the medicine could possibly be monitored by a health care provider.

'We agreed to satisfy once more on his return from Iraq to think about beginning him on anti depressants at that time,' he mentioned.

Mr O'Sullivan's father Anthony mentioned 'Pete skilled some very extreme navy exercise in Afghanistan. He got here down with psoriasis and it brought on him a number of stress. 

'He began to have a tic and facial issues throughout his service and that, to me, clearly indicated that he was affected by PTSD.'

'Pete additionally did the SAS evaluation coaching and he handed that course. It has been famous that the course, which is a really extreme bodily take a look at the place they undergo great anxious conditions, can set off PTSD as nicely.'

Mr O'Sullivan senior additionally mentioned the household had been 'very upset' they weren't instructed their son's suicide danger issue though he appreciated there have been problems with confidentiality.

'Had we recognized we might have mentioned 'Overlook going again to work, let's simply get you proper,' he mentioned.

After the inquest Mr O'Sullivan mentioned the household had been anxious to determine that his son had PTSD so he could possibly be remembered on the Nationwide Arboretum.

'We would like his service to be recognised there,' he mentioned. 'To do this proof of publish traumatic stress associated to navy service is required. 

'Though that has not been a part of the inquest conclusion at present we really feel the proof has helped us to realize recognition for Pete.' 

Sue Freeth, chief govt of Fight Stress, mentioned: 'We're very saddened by the loss of life of Peter O'Sullivan and our ideas are along with his household at this tough time.

'Any veteran we see who's vulnerable to suicide is referred to their GP or accident and emergency service for help and specialist assist.

'Marketing consultant psychiatrist appointments at Fight Stress are supplied to veterans on the earliest alternative, and if veterans are unavailable to attend on account of their journey preparations, an appointment is obtainable to them as quickly as doable on their return.

'Fight Stress presents help and therapy for veterans with PTSD, melancholy and anxiousness. Our 24-hour Helpline is offered on 0800 138 1619 for veterans and serving personnel, and their households.' 

• For confidential help name the Samaritans on 116123 or go to a neighborhood Samaritans department, see www.samaritans.org for particulars. 

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