Devastated family of soldier search for answers amid fears of 'suicide cluster'

The family of a devastated solider hope an inquest will help them discover if more could have been done to help him prior to his death.

Fears of a 'suicide cluster' within the battalion Nicki Hart served in have been raised. One of those to have died was 18-year-old Thamir Mbarushimana, who lost his life on railway tracks near his home in Wythenshawe earlier this year while on weekend leave from a psychiatric hospital.

Nicki, 33, who had a history of mental health problems, died at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire in February 2022. An Army Service Inquiry Report found there were 'several missed opportunities that significantly hampered the efforts' to help him.

READ MORE: Inquest to explore railway tragedy of soldier, 18, killed while on weekend leave

It also raised concerns over a possible 'suicide cluster' after four sudden deaths in the 4th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland between 2018 and 2022. An inquest into the death of the father-of-three will begin tomorrow, which his heartbroken family hope will provide 'much needed' answers.

Ahead of the inquest, Nicki's heartbroken widow Sara, 38, said: “Nicki was my world and to lose him so suddenly and in such tragic circumstances continues to affect me every day.

“To know our children will have to navigate through life without their devoted dad is something I’m still struggling to come to terms with, but I’ll make sure they know how much he loved them. I always believed more could have been done to help Nicki when he needed it.

"While the Service Inquiry Report provided us with some of the answers we needed, we’re hopeful that the inquest, no matter how tough, will help us honour Nicki’s memory and help ensure no other family has to go through what we