A desperate ex-soldier who was driven to the brink of suicide has told how he was brought back by his and a veterans’ charity.
Former Royal Engineer William Hall hit rock bottom after he was left jobless and penniless and could not leave the house because of a condition that left him unable to walk.
But his terrier Arty helped save the day. William, 25, from Airdrie, said: “I was living alone and I couldn’t look after myself or my dog.
“I was considering suicide. The only thing that stopped me was I couldn’t get anyone to look after my dog.”
William returned from a tour of Afghanistan in 2013 with reactive arthritis – a painful condition triggered by a virus that left him using a wheelchair.
William turned to a veterans’ advice project which then deployed David Gibson, founder of Fares4Free, a charity that provides free taxi rides and support to veterans.
A few hours later, David arrived at William’s flat with bags of food for him and Arty that he paid for out of his own pocket.
William said: “I broke down on the doorstep. That was the turning point.”
He is now fully on the mend thanks to medication and has adopted a street dog from Spain named Nessie. He now volunteers at Fares4Free.
David’s work helping veterans led to a Local Legend Award at the 25th birthday National Lottery Awards.
David said: “The majority of veterans come out of the service as well-adjusted individuals but there is a significant minority that needs support. After all, everyone has a dip now and then.”
