British soldier found dead in Episkopi

A BRITISH soldier was found dead in the early hours of yesterday in the toilet of his barracks at Episkopi.

It is believed police have ruled out foul play in the death of the 18-year old from Glasgow, who was serving with the Royal Highland Fusiliers.

A British bases spokesman confirmed the death but the name of the soldier has not been release pending his family in Scotland being informed.

“Early on Friday there was tragic event at Episkopi garrison with the tragic death of a soldier and our thoughts go out to his family,” said the spokesman.

“A full investigation is in progress and after a post mortem is conducted we will be able to make further statements on the matter.”

It is believes the soldier was found at around 4am.

The teenage soldier had gone AWOL some months ago but returned to his barracks within a few days. He had not served in Iraq, although the Royal Fusiliers had done a tour of duty there. The dead soldier was described as someone who was “not a heavy drinker”.

It is not know whether he was slated to go to Iraq. A year ago, the bases had a spate of AWOL teenage soldiers from the same regiment who were afraid of being posted there and were being diagnosed on return to Scotland with stress and depression.

The teenagers went AWOL only months after one of the Royal Fusiliers Gordon Gentle, 19, was killed when his military convoy was hit by a roadside bomb in Basra in June 2004.

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