Aeran Luke Sebastian Taylor · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 01 November 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of Aeran Luke Sebastian Taylor aged 38. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 22 January 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was that:

On 27 October 2023 Aeran Taylor was sadly found deceased at his home address in Crawley. There was evidence of drug use but nothing to indicate intent, or the involvement of a 3rd party. Post mortem analysis showed the presence of multiple substances combined to fatal toxic effect, likely as a result of an accidental overdose.

Mr Taylor had rapidly fallen into drug addiction, having been discharged from the Army for substance misuse in December 2006, following an operational tour to Iraq (Op Telic 7 – Nov 2005-May 2006) with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. He was subsequently diagnosed with PTSD arising from combat operations. Despite the payment of compensation by MoD, and prior engagement with and help from Combat Stress, as well as with and from local GP, Housing, and Adult Addiction services in West Sussex at the time of his death, he had relapsed into addiction and had not fully recovered from PTSD. He was under probation at the time of his death. His death resulted from an accidental overdose of primarily illicit drugs.

- When found to have taken illicit drugs months after completing an operational tour, there appears to have been no inquiry or check as to possible correlation with potential PTSD or other reasons for the behaviour, such as a lack of effective post-tour decompression.
- There appears to have been no formal, clinical assessment of mental health at point of discharge, which may have identified the emergence of PTSD. I understand this may now be routine, or more prevalent, but there remains a community of veterans at risk for whom no such assessment may have been in place.
- I heard evidence of a lack of awareness of regimental welfare staff and the role such organisations can play in supporting veterans. Again, those now serving may be more aware but there appears to be a community of veterans at risk who remain unaware, including as to how such organisations fit and work within the overall veteran support landscape.
- Despite the introduction of Op Courage and sharing of information between - and recognised efforts by - MoD, NHS and organisations such as Combat Stress to treat individuals, there appears to remain a lack of readily available, fully funded, long term rehabilitation and substance abuse recovery for veterans with PTSD at risk, notably for those only diagnosed well after leaving the Armed Forces, and/or who are ‘long term cases’ for whom treatment has not succeeded and/or who have relapsed after and despite such interventions.