The death of a British Army sergeant who was found at Warren Hill in Tidworth has been ruled a suicide.
Alexander Thomas Cairnie, 30, who was based at Perham Down, was found on a remote hillside near his barracks.
The inquest, held at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court in Salisbury on Thursday, February 12, heard that Sgt Cairnie had been reported missing but his body was found two days later by a bird watcher.
David Ridley, senior coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said that days before his death, Mr Cairnie had been interviewed at a police station in Swindon.
Details of the investigation were not disclosed during the hearing into his death.
Read more: What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?
The court heard that Sgt Cairnie, known as Alex, was born in Lincoln on October 1, 1994, and joined the Army in 2013, something he had always wanted to do.
Captain Alasdair Walker, a welfare officer, told the court that Sgt Cairnie was reported missing on July 6 with reports stating that he left the camp at around 11am.
In a written statement, he said: “I rang civilian police to inform them that Alex’s whereabouts was unknown and that the military had welfare concerns because of recent events.”
He had been issued a phone by Captain Walker, which would be used for his welfare and well-being check-ups, but he left that device behind when he went missing.
A welfare and well-being system had been put in place at the time, as Sgt Cairnie was under investigation for an unnamed matter, the inquest heard.
Police investigated Mr Cairnie’s death, but did not find any suspicious circumstances.
A post-mortem examination found he had died from hanging, and toxicology tests were negative for the presence of alcohol or drugs, only showing low traces of nicotine and caffeine.
The inquest heard there were no mental health issues recorded on Mr Cairnie’s medical notes.
Recording a conclusion of suicide, Mr Ridley said: “Alex’s body was discovered on Tuesday, July 8 2025 in a remote part of Warren Hill.
“Alex went missing from the barracks at around midday on July 6.
“I think there is enough evidence on the balance of probabilities to record a suicide conclusion.”
The medical cause of death was given as hanging.
If you would like any help with bereavement, loss or mental wellbeing, here are some helpline numbers:
Call the Samaritans on 116 123 or go online at samaritans.org
Child Bereavement UK 0800 028 8840 childbereavementuk.org
Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677 cruse.org.uk
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) 0300 111 5065 uksobs.org
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