Army soldier, 28, who suffered depression and panic attacks following carbon monoxide leak in his tank during training exercise hanged himself after splitting from his wife, inquest hears

• Lance Corporal of Horse Michael Miah hanged himself on December 15, 2021
• Mr Miah had become a ‘recluse’ following a carbon monoxide leak in his tank 
• Spiralled into depression and split with wife Jessica Miah two days before death
• Mr Miah, who joined the Army in 2013, was found dead at Bulford, Salisbury Plain
• For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org 

A British Army solider who suffered depression and panic attacks following a carbon monoxide leak in his tank during a training exercise hanged himself after splitting from his wife, an inquest has heard.

Lance Corporal of Horse Michael Miah of the Household Cavalry became a ‘recluse’ following the incident in which he was forced to escape from the armoured vehicle before vomiting and passing out during an exercise in Canada.  

A coroner heard that the 28-year-old, described as ‘happy and ‘sociable’, suffered panic attacks and regularly relived the horror accident while driving military vehicles.

His relationship with his wife Jessica Miah – who he had been with for six years – started to deteriorate so much to the point that she left him in December last year.

Mr Miah – who joined the British Army in 2013 –  was found hanged in his garage two days later on December 15 at Bulford army camp, on Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire.

His body was found just ten days before Christmas on the same day that 19-year-old soldier Jaysley-Louise Beck was tragically found dead at a base in Larkhill – also on Salisbury Plain.

 British Army solider Michael Miah hanged himself after spiralling into depression and splitting from his wife following a carbon monoxide leak in his tank, an inquest has heard

Mr Miah (pictured) became a ‘recluse’ following the carbon monoxide leak in which he was forced to escape from his tank before vomiting and passing out during an exercise in Canada

Mrs Miah said in a written statement which was read out to Salisbury Coroner’s Court that her husband – who she had been childhood friends with – had changed since his accident in 2017.

‘[He] had an accident in a tank that was leaking carbon monoxide. He suffered from depression ever since,’ she said.

‘Before that he was a caring person and very social. After the accident he became a recluse, he did not want to go out and locked himself in the house.

‘He spent the majority of his time gaming. [He was told by the Army] that if he did not show improvement by a certain date then they would be pushing for a medical discharge.

‘We started having arguments.’

The inquest heard that the solider had been ‘determined to make his marriage work’ but was not successful after Mrs Miah decided to leave him in December 2021. She left him a note before leaving the home that they shared.

When Mrs Miah noticed that her husband had not been active on the messaging app for a few days, she contacted Army welfare officers who later discovered the soldier’s body in his garage.

His commanding, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Gilham, told the inquest the soldier had appeared to be ‘entirely happy’ but was aware he had problems with his marriage. Pictured: Barracks at Bulford camp on Salisbury Plain

A coroner heard that Mr Miah (pictured), described as ‘happy and ‘sociable’, suffered panic attacks and regularly relived the horror accident while driving military vehicles

An army representative told the inquest that they had never been aware of Mr Miah – who grew up in Wordsley, West Midlands – suffering from any kind of mental health problems.

His commanding, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Gilham, told the inquest the soldier had appeared to be ‘entirely happy’ but was aware he had problems with his marriage.

Lt Col Gilham said: ‘[LCoH Miah] had discussed his marriage problems openly with chain of command.

‘We gave him time off to work on his relationship… we had no knowledge of mental health problems.

‘He appeared entirely happy and just wanted to focus on fixing his marriage.

‘[After his accident] we recommended that he should be retained [with the regiment] because of what a good soldier he was.’

Lt Col Gilham told Mr Miah’s family that the Household Cavalry would ‘always he here for you.’

Area Coroner for Wiltshire, Ian Singleton, said: ‘Following a break up in his marriage, Michael Miah entered a garage where he voluntarily placed a ligature around his neck.

‘He was found hanged on 15 December 2021.’

• For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org

Source: Read Full Article