Ex-soldier with PTSD stepped in front of lorry on M20 near Ashford
An ex-soldier suffering from PTSD took his own life by stepping in front of a lorry on the M20, an inquest has heard.
Robert Keith was driving on the motorway near Ashford when his car crashed into a ditch.
But the 38-year-old - who was much-loved but “didn’t realise his self-worth” - then chose to end his life and walked into oncoming traffic.
Giving evidence at Mr Keith’s inquest last Friday, DC Ryan Alexander reported the testimony of eyewitnesses to the tragic incident near the bridge by Evegate Business Park in Smeeth.
“The car was in a ditch at the side of the road, very damaged,” DC Alexander said.
“One or two people reported seeing him walk out into the path of the lorry.
“They said he was confused, but that he was able to have a conversation, and then following that conversation looked directly towards the lorry and walked towards it.”
Police and paramedics attended at about 7.45am on Friday, February 23, but Mr Keith was pronounced dead at the scene, having suffered multiple traumatic injuries.
Robert was born in Essex and grew up in Brentwood before joining the army at age 20.
Over eight years of service as a soldier and engineer, he was posted to Afghanistan and Germany.
But his mother, Helen Webb, said it was following his time in the army that her son’s mental health took a turn for the worse.
After being discharged, Mr Keith switched career tracks - earning a degree in furniture and product design from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 and taking a job as a designer in Belm, Germany.
The inquest at Oakwood House in Maidstone heard he had a history of PTSD, OCD and depression, and in the months leading up to his death had endured a break-up and lost his job.
Determined to improve his wellbeing, in January he referred himself to a therapy programme at Serenity House - a mental health and wellness centre in Wales.
All reports from the facility point to Mr Keith having made good progress and by the time he was discharged he had secured himself a new job in Germany.
He was on his way to Folkestone where he was scheduled to travel to Germany when the crash occurred.
Speaking at the hearing, Mr Keith’s mother said she believes the prospect of rebuilding his life was ultimately too much for him to bear.
“Robert was very loved and didn’t realise his self worth...”
“We went out for a meal the night before and I told him everything would be OK, that he had a good job, that he was good-looking and that he could turn it all around,” Ms Webb said.
“I had said to him it could turn out even better for you - you’ve got a new job, a new apartment and you’ve got a chance to find yourself and build a better life.
“But he just seemed to be in so much pain and I think he felt it was a mountain he couldn’t climb.
“The nearer he got to Folkestone, he thought I have to get across to Germany and start all over again.
“I personally think it wasn’t pre-meditated, but that it was somehow an impulse - once he had been picked up out of the road and he was OK, that he had to finish the whole thing - it was the point of no return and he had just lost it at the last minute.”
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A toxicology report revealed Robert was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time and the coroner ruled out the possibility of any third-party involvement in his death.
“All the evidence would point to the fact that this was a deliberate act,” added assistant coroner Catherine Wood.
“I’m satisfied that he took his own life and that he intended to do so at the time.”
The cause of death was given as multiple injuries.
Speaking after the hearing, Ms Webb told KentOnline: “Robert was very loved and didn’t realise his self-worth.”
References
- ^ click here to visit the website (www.samaritans.org)
- ^ click here (www.kent.gov.uk)