Tributes paid following death of British soldier who lockdown ‘had a massive impact on’

Tributes paid following death of British soldier who served alongside Lee Rigby

A former British soldier who served alongside Fusilier Lee Rigby and carried his coffin at his funeral has sadly died.

Tributes are being paid to the much-loved father, Dean Corbett, a British army Corporal.

Cpl Corbett, who served alongside Drummer Rigby as a Fusilier with 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was found dead at his flat in Urmston, Trafford, on Sunday. He was just 32 with a young son.

They were close friends and Cpl Corbett’s family said he “endured a massive bereavement” when the 25-year-old from Middleton was brutally murdered in a terror attack in Woolwich, London, in 2013.

Cpl Corbett’s family said he had a ‘history of untreated mental illness’ which deteriorated after he left the Army in 2017, they said his death was not being treated as suspicious.

Cpl Corbett, was known to his military colleagues and friends by the nickname ‘Ronnie’, he completed an operational tour of Afghanistan in 2009.

Following this Cpl Corbett was deployed on major exercises in Kenya in 2011 and Jordan in 2013, and had also completed ceremonial duties in London.

Cpl Corbett’s sister, Faye Corbett, issued a glowing tribute to her brother, with military tributes also being paid to him online.

A GoFundMe appeal for the family has now been launched with Faye writing in the appeal: “As many of you will already be aware my brother Dean Corbett passed away on Sunday, August 16.

“Dean had a history of untreated mental illness.

“Family and friends repeatedly asked him to get help and following his referral, he had his initial ‘over the phone’ screening with the mental health team only a few weeks ago.

“Unfortunately he didn’t make it to his next session.

“He told me recently that he was going to counselling to receive help for the traumas he had experienced during his life.

“Dean completed an operational tour of Afghanistan during his career in the Army and endured a massive bereavement in 2013 when his colleague and friend Lee Rigby was brutally murdered in Woolwich.

“Dean’s mental health deteriorated after leaving the Army.”

Faye said that the coronavirus lockdown ‘had a massive impact’ on Cpl Corbett’s mental health.

Faye added: “Dean’s death has had a massive impact on a lot of people,

“We hope to raise as much money as we can for the funeral.

“Thank you for everyone’s kind messages and support.”

You can check out Cpl Corbett’s GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dean-corbett039s-funeral?fbclid=IwAR1X8eF9Psl3BY1-D04lgGpc4eM5U9nDB55Y_PUvfDCYYQGUJkN3N5CC1EA