7:30 reports on sailor deaths at HMAS Stirling

Tonight 7:30 will investigate what it describes as “a disturbing spate of deaths involving sailors from the Perth naval base, HMAS Stirling.”

7.30 reporter Louise’s Milligan’s powerful story about the deaths of at least six current or former serving sailors – five suicides and one apparent overdose – exposes a hidden culture of binge drinking and use of the drug ice on the base and on Navy ships.

In one case, a sailor’s wife tried to warn the Navy her husband was an ice addict and yet he was sent to sea regardless, where he died of a drug and alcohol overdose.

“I basically told him that he needed help and I didn’t want my kids burying their dad. And it was getting out of control. And he said that drugs aren’t allowed in the Navy and I said ‘don’t treat me like a stupid navy wife’” -Karley Livingston, wife of Bradley “Doc” Livingston who died of opiate toxicity

The story raises serious questions about duty of care: some of the sailors involved had made multiple suicide attempts at work in the Navy before they ultimately killed themselves; and yet their families had no idea that they had any mental health problems. Others were on Navy-prescribed psychiatric medication. The Navy cited privacy laws as a defence.

“They knew. And we weren’t told about it. We were kept in the dark. We had no idea. None whatsoever”
– Jessica Ames, Sister of Stuart Addison who took his own life while on shore leave

One family is now campaigning to change that, to make sure families are informed if young sailors are in trouble.

7:30 Tuesday on ABC.

Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636