Cannock soldier died by suicide while serving overseas, inquest finds
A 23-year-old soldier from Staffordshire took his own life while serving overseas, an inquest found.
Sam Brownridge, from Cannock, died at the Lavendel Spa Hotel in the Estonian capital of Tallin on July 5.
The father-of-one had returned there in the early hours after socialising with colleagues.
Mr Brownridge, a fusilier, had been posted to Estonia as part of a NATO operation in the Baltic region of Europe, close to the border with Russia.
Staffordshire Coroners Court concluded that his death was suicide.
A record of inquest, signed by senior coroner Andrew Haigh, said: "Sam Brownridge was a fusilier in the Army on deployment in Estonia.
"During a period of leave, he was staying at the Lavendel Spa Hotel in Tallinn. On July 4, he went out socially with colleagues.
"Early on July 5, he returned to the hotel and hanged himself."
Mr Brownridge, who was born in Walsall, was described as "fun loving and fiercely loyal" by one commanding officer.
He had grown up in Cannock, had a daughter called Marcè and served with Mortar Platoon - part of the First Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers - for more than two years before his death.
He joined the British Army in January 2017 and completed his initial training at the Infantry Training Centre, in Catterick, Yorkshire, before he was posted to First Battalion.
Mr Brownridge was initially part of the battalion's Z Company but moved to Mortar Platoon in January 2019.
Within that platoon, he took part in a training exercise in Canada, before completing a driving course in the Bulldog Armoured Fighting Vehicle - an armoured personnel carrier - ahead of deployment to Estonia.
The Fusiliers have been there as part of Operation Cabrit, where the British Army is supporting NATO's deterrent against Russia in Eastern Europe.
Around 900 soldiers are posted there on a rotational basis, with the bulk of them being Fusiliers, alongside Danish, French, and Estonian troops.
In a statement, the Army described Mr Brownridge as a "a petrol head to his core" and said he had worked hard on his fitness in preparation for competing for the Army Enduro Motorcycle Racing Team.
His funeral was held on July 24 where dozens of bikers turned out to pay their respects.
Mr Brownridge's fellow soldier, Fusilier Ben Cribb, paid tribute to him by saying: "Sam was the mate who was always there when I needed him and always had the right answer for any problems I had.
"He loved to talk about cars, Land Rovers and a home he hoped to buy in Wolverhampton.
"He was a good soldier, a mortarman who always strived to do his best."
Captain Dave Davies, the commanding officer of Mortar Platoon, added: "Fusilier Sam Brownridge was the epitome of what it means to be a mortarman."
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