A sergeant in the most senior armoured regiment in the British Army took his own life after finding out he was facing criminal charges, an inquest heard.
Sergeant Alex Cairnie of the Queen’s Royal Hussars was found hanged near Tidworth Barracks in Wiltshire, where he was stationed.
The ‘professional’ and ’empathetic’ soldier had been laughing with a friend over breakfast before going missing at around midday on July, 6, 2025.
The 30-year-old was found two days later by a bird watcher, an inquest held in Salisbury heard, where a coroner concluded he died of suicide.
Sgt Cairnie, who was described as a ‘completely dedicated’ man, was told by the army that he was facing criminal charges – the nature of which were not disclosed.
He was placed on the vulnerable risk management register despite being found to be at a very high risk of self harm due to the ongoing criminal probe.
Before his death, the soldier had spoken with friends throughout the weekend and had breakfast with a co-worker on the day he went missing.
Staff Sergeant Potts, who was also a friend, said he had dropped the 30-year-old off at his barracks at around 10.30am that day.
‘His demeanour was fine. His mood was low due to what was bothering him, but we laughed, and it seemed like a normal conversation between friends,’ he said.
Sergeant Alex Cairnie of the Queen’s Royal Hussars (pictured) was found hanged near Tidworth Barracks in Wiltshire, where he was stationed
The 30-year-old was told by the army that he was facing criminal charges, the nature of which were not disclosed
Captain Walker, the unit welfare officer, had been in contact with Sgt Cairnie over the weekend, and sent him a text to check in with him, but never got a reply.
He had also phoned him, but there was no answer, and so he went to his barracks to find that he was not there.
The police were notified and a search was carried out to find him, however, Sgt Cairnie was found dead two days later by a man who was birdwatching.
A toxicology report found Sgt Cairnie from Lincolnshire, who joined the army in 2013, had not drugs or alcohol in his system.
Bank statements, found by police, showed the 30-year-old had purchased a cigarettes and a lighter from a Tesco in Tidworth.
The final person he contacted was wife, Lucy Cairnie, whom he told to have a good day and that it was cold outside.
‘He was professional, empathetic, and completely dedicated to everything he did and always delivered beyond the standards,’ Staff Sergeant Kelly said.
He said he was aware of the issues Sgt Cairnie was facing, but he never spoke directly to him about them.
‘Alex was someone who would work through them and wouldn’t raise these issues at work,’ he added.
‘I have never seen him upset or display any concern. But he obviously had things going on.’
Another co-worker described him as a ‘reserved man’, who was ‘generally quiet unless spoken to’.
Mrs Cairnie, said that he loved football and had set up his own team as well as describing him as a keen gamer who loved to tinker with vehicles.
Senior coroner for Wiltshire and Salisbury, David Ridley, ruled that he had died by suicide on July 8, 2025.
‘Alex was a really good soldier. I was told that he would have been in line for staff sergeant the next year,’ Mr Ridley said.
‘He was in his element when he was in the middle of a field, freezing cold.’
‘I would like to offer my condolences to his family and of course Mrs Cairnie and the young ones as well.
‘Also to his sisters in the sad loss of your brother and your friends.’
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