The family of a tragic Scots soldier who died after falling from the seventh floor of a hotel in Poland are desperately seeking answers about his death.
Corporal Ryan Lovatt was deployed to participate in diplomatic services with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards as part of Operation Cabrit when he died in August 2019.
The 25-year-old, from Glasgow, was pronounced dead at the scene after plunging an estimated 70ft off the balcony in Warsaw.
An inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death is set to begin on Wednesday, June 23, with his heartbroken family desperate for answers.
In a statement released via their legal team at Irwin Mitchell, Ryan’s family said “We’re devastated by the loss of our son Ryan.
“We never would’ve expected for him to be hurt on a deployment like this.
“It took well over a year before we received any documentation from the Ministry of Defence surrounding his death.
“As a family we have many questions surrounding the circumstances of Ryan’s death and hope that the inquest will provide us with answers.”
Stephanie Clark, the expert lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Ryan’s family, said:
“This is a difficult time for Ryan’s family in which they’re still processing the circumstances of his death.
“While it’s vital the most thorough investigation takes place, not knowing all of the reasons surrounding Ryan’s death has been incredibly difficult.
“We’re continuing to support Ryan’s family and are determined to provide them with the answers that they deserve.
“If during the course of the inquest issues surrounding Ryan’s death are identified it’s vital that lessons are learned to improve safety of service personnel.”
Ryan, of 2 Close Support Battalion of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, was given a full military funeral after following in his father’s military footsteps.
The Inquest is due to take place on Wednesday, 23 June, at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court, County Hall, Oxford.
The Ministry of Defence have been contacted for comment.
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