Hero SAS medic shot himself after heartbreaking final video saying ‘I asked for help but no one was listening’
AN SAS hero killed himself moments after recording a heartbreaking final video saying he "asked for help but no one was listening."
Staff Sergeant Jamie Ferguson, 36, who saved hundreds of soldiers' lives on multiple tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, shot himself in a military base 11 days ago.
His is the third military suicide at Leuchars Military Base, Fife, in a year and one of five in just a week this month.
Moments before taking his life he told a self-recorded video: “I asked for help but no one was listening, they didn’t understand.”
At least 14 service personnel and veterans are believed to have killed themselves during lockdown.
His widow Sammi, 50, is now demanding the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Government take responsibility for the surge in suicides.
The mum-of-three told : “The MoD is in denial. My husband asked for help but he was ignored. How many more soldiers and veterans need to die?
“The MoD’s behaviour is a scandal and the Government should be ashamed of itself.
“These soldiers were mentally traumatised in the service of this country and they have been disowned.
“My message to the MoD is please stop relying on charities to deal with mental health problems – it’s your job.
“My husband should be alive today. There will be Army wives who think their husbands are fine but who are planning to kill themselves. The MoD behaves as though this isn’t an issue.”
'One trauma too many'
Sammi said he was treated for a condition that leads to PTSD after soldier Mathew Talbot, 22, of the Coldstream Guards, was trampled to death by a rogue elephant last year.
SSgt Ferguson fought desperately for two hours to keep him alive during the British Army anti-poaching operation in Malawi.
Sammi said: “When he came back home he was tense and I encouraged him to go to an Army doctor.
“He was diagnosed with an acute stress reaction and resigned his paramedic qualification.
“He said he never wanted to practise medicine again after the incident because he believed that his mental health would be at risk if he continued.
“It was one trauma too many, one life lost too many. It had been weighing heavily on him. He wanted somebody to say, ‘You did everything you could.”
Sammi was married to him for over 13 years and had a son Lukas with him as well as two daughters from a previous marriage.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
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- Samaritans, , 116 123
SSgt Ferguson, from Leicestershire and known to colleagues as Fergie, joined the army at 16 and served for more than 20 years.
Colleagues described him as an "awesome soldier" and were shocked by his death.
SSgt Ferguson volunteered as an SAS medic and passed the rigorous special forces course Black Serpent in 2008.
For the next four years he served with A Squadron, 22 SAS and took part in numerous operations saving hundreds of lives.
In Afghanistan he treated victims of a 2009 attack by a rogue policeman who shot dead three Grenadier Guards and two Royal Military Policemen as well as severely wounding six other soldiers.
His last posting was working as the Permanent Staff Instructor for 205 Field Hospital, based in Dundee.
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Tory MP Julian Lewis, who is tabling a Parliamentary question on veterans’ suicides, said: “Tragedies of this sort will continue without a national centre for excellence for personnel’s mental health, just as we have a centre for physical injuries and rehab.”
Labour’s Stephen Morgan said: “The tragic death of SSgt Ferguson must be a catalyst for change. It is simply not good enough for the MoD to repeatedly issue condolences to families. Enough is enough.”
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The Army said Jamie’s regiment and police were cooperating to probe his death, adding: “Our thoughts are with his family and friends. It would be inappropriate to comment further.”
