Inquest to explore railway tragedy of soldier, 18, killed while on weekend leave

An inquest will explore the death of a teenage solider who died on a railway line while on weekend leave from a psychiatric hospital.

Thamir Mbarushimana was 18 when he lost his life near his home in Wythenshawe on Sunday, February 16, 2022. The private had just started training at the Infantry Training Centre at the British Army's Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

He was described by his heartbroken family as a 'wonderful' young man with a 'heart of gold'. At the time of his death he was a voluntary in-patient at West Park Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Darlington, and had been given 'unescorted' weekend leave to visit his family in south Manchester.

At a pre-inquest review at Manchester coroners court on Tuesday (July 2), Sefton Kwasnik, representing Thamir's family, requested the coroner hold what is known as an Article 2 inquest. These are enhanced hearings that take place when someone has died while in custody or while under the care or protection of the state and look into the wider circumstances of the death.

READ MORE: Man at centre of police probe named as neighbours say 'he didn't deserve this'

Area coroner Zak Golombek said that while his decision would be reviewed if new evidence came to light, the hearing would proceed as a conventional inquest. He said: "My position at this stage is that there is no arguable breach of either operational or systems duties."

Mr Kwasnik responded: "We have a different view of the evidence as to risk and known risk to life." Earlier in the hearing Mr Kwasnik also requested that a 'suicide case review' which had been carried out by the Ministry of Defence following Thamir's death be disclosed to the family.

He said: "The family remain in a position where there are a number of voids and gaps that are proper and relevant to a full and fair investigation of Thamir's death."

Ana Samuel, representing the MOD, said the review had been submitted to the court, adding: "There has been full disclosure of army records and policies."

Mr Golombek said he would consider whether the suicide review should be disclosed. The inquest was adjourned until October 7.