‘How many red flags do you need’: Family says Defence failed them and veteran who made eight suicide attempts

A grieving widow says the Defence Force did little to help her or her “broken” sniper husband despite multiple hospitalisations and suicide attempts.

It took eight months – and two suicide attempts – before RAAF sniper Andrew “Mung” Perry was diagnosed with PTSD after being medevaced out of Afghanistan.

But his family says this was just one of several failings by the Australian Defence Force, which neglected to take care of a “broken” man they had spent millions on training.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicides on Wednesday was told that Mr Perry’s return to Darwin in 2013 from an eight-month stint in the Middle East kicked off two years of hell for his family, with his spiralling moods and erratic behaviour punctuated by numerous hospital stays and another six suicide attempts.

One of his suicide attempts required action from the police tactical response unit in a remote area an hour away from his home.

The last one in December 2015 ended his life.

Andrew ‘Mung’ Perry’s stepdaughter Kamaia Alexander and widow Bonny Perry savaged the Defence Force’s apparent inability to care for an unwell man.

Mr Perry’s widow Bonny and stepdaughter Kamaia Alexander on Wednesday were savage of the Defence Force and its apparent inability to care for an unwell man.

“I just don’t understand how the ADF can see all those suicide attempts … how many red flags do you want? You know, a guy shouldn’t be successful on his eighth attempt,” Ms Perry told the inquiry in Sydney.

They described someone who went from being a proud and rugged comedian to a shell of a human who had no sense of purpose, no regard for his safety and who was extremely skilled at lying and avoiding his issues.

He “went to water” at any loud noise or backfire, spent days in depression sleeps and could often be heard crying in the kitchen at night.

“One day we went out to Corroboree Billabong and he was chasing crocodiles because he wanted them to eat him,” Ms Perry said.

“He was just doing all these risky things to … I don’t know whether there were cries for help or he just at that stage really did want to go.”

It took until July 2014 – eight months after arriving home – for Mr Perry to receive a PTSD diagnosis, while his sense of worth was further obliterated by being placed on restricted duties on base.

Ms Perry said her husband was only offered one counselling session through Defence upon his return.

“You’ve got a sniper working in an armoury who’s not allowed to go into the armoury,” Ms Perry said.

“You’ve got a man that you have spent millions of dollars on and he wasn’t an idiot. Why not find another job for him?”

While he was in hospital suffering suicidal ideation Mr Perry was told his discharge process would begin instead of Defence finding him another more suitable role.

“Surely there should be something that you can put to Canberra or policy or something … Find something else to do that‘s meaningful, not just take away his life.”

Ms Perry also said her husband was only offered one counselling session through Defence upon his return. She said she was denied assistance when she requested a cleaner one day a fortnight to help her maintain the home during one of Mr Perry’s hospital stays.

That was eventually organised and paid for by Mr Perry’s squadron.

RAAF sniper Andrew Perry, pictured with wife Bonny, died by suicide in December 2015.

“When (soldiers) come back and everyone knows they’re broken, we should be supported because if we’re not functioning, we can’t help him,” Ms Perry said.

“And that was the case that had to get to the stage where we were so exhausted. We couldn’t put up with his crap anymore.”

Ms Perry said her husband was again escorted to hospital by police on December 16, 2015, but released after just seven hours.

She said a senior medical officer had told her that Mr Perry was “not a threat to himself”, and he had told the man that he had been a “sh-t husband” and he needed to go away for five days and “have a good hard think about things”.

A few days later, having checked into a resort, Mr Perry was found dead.

His cause of death was not determined for a number of months because someone forgot to process his blood toxicology.

Ultimately, Ms Perry said she wanted to see more psychiatric and psychological support on bases and for the various departments to lift their game in helping veterans and their families.

She was also dissatisfied with the explanation as to why Mr Perry was discharged from hospital the final time.

“I think my husband could be alive If that (senior medical officer) did not discharge him from that hospital after seven hours,” she said.

“So I think someone is accountable for my husband’s death.”

Originally published as ‘How many red flags do you need’: Family says Defence failed them and veteran who made eight suicide attempts