White Helmets founder ‘had suicidal thoughts’ claims his wife

British White Helmets founder James Le Mesurier had suicidal thoughts two weeks before he fell to his death in Turkey, his wife has reportedly told police. 

Emma Winberg yesterday gave a three-hour statement to Turkish investigators after Le Mesurier died in Istanbul on Monday.  

Ms Winberg has now been banned from leaving Turkey until the investigation ends in case authorities need to speak to her again, according to Turkish media.  

However, police are treating Le Mesurier’s death as suicide and there is no indication that Ms Winberg is a suspect.  

Police are now analysing records from a hospital where the former British Army officer sought help for mental health issues, the DHA news agency said.

British White Helmets founder James Le Mesurier (pictured) had suicidal thoughts two weeks before he fell to his death in Turkey, his wife has reportedly told police

Le Mesurier's wife Emma Winberg (pictured right in Istanbul) yesterday gave a three-hour statement to Turkish police, who are treating the White Helmets founder's death as suicide

Le Mesurier’s wife Emma Winberg (pictured right in Istanbul) yesterday gave a three-hour statement to Turkish police, who are treating the White Helmets founder’s death as suicide

Le Mesurier, whom Russia had accused of being a spy just days before he died, had reportedly sought medical help for stress and was using sleeping pills and antidepressants. 

Now his wife has apparently told police that he had suicidal thoughts 15 days before his death.  

The 48-year-old was found dead near his apartment building in Istanbul in the early hours of Monday morning. 

According to an account given to police by Ms Winberg, he had gone to sleep at 2.30am on Monday but awoke at 4.30am.  

She said that he gave her a sleeping pill with a glass of water and they both went to bed. 

However, just an hour later Ms Winberg was woken up by police after her husband’s body was found lying on the street outside.  

The body was found near his home in the Beyoglu district by worshippers on their way to a mosque, according to reports in Turkey.  

The Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office said an autopsy and other procedures were underway at Istanbul’s Forensic Medicine Institute to determine ‘the exact cause’ of his death. 

Circled: The balcony where James Le Mesurier is believed to have fallen to his death in Istanbul in the early hours of Monday morning

Circled: The balcony where James Le Mesurier is believed to have fallen to his death in Istanbul in the early hours of Monday morning 

Turkish police officers, pictured outside Le Mesurier's home earlier this week, have reportedly banned his wife from leaving the country until their investigation is complete

Turkish police officers, pictured outside Le Mesurier’s home earlier this week, have reportedly banned his wife from leaving the country until their investigation is complete 

The coffin of James Le Mesurier is loaded onto a Turkish Airlines jet at Istanbul's airport on Wednesday evening for its flight to London

The coffin of James Le Mesurier is loaded onto a Turkish Airlines jet at Istanbul’s airport on Wednesday evening for its flight to London

It said police were still in the process of gathering security camera recordings near the scene and assessing them.

Istanbul governor Ali Yerlikaya told reporters on Tuesday: ‘Our chief prosecutor’s office, our police are engaged in multifaceted efforts to shed light on the incident.’   

The couple’s domestic worker, who was in the building at the time, has told police she knew nothing about how Le Mesurier died, according to DHA. 

A preliminary post mortem report found that Le Mesurier’s death was caused by ‘general trauma’ and there were no signs of a struggle. 

However, suspicion remains over his death and Amnesty International said on Tuesday that there was a possibility of foul play. 

‘Given the long history of smears and accusations made against Le Mesurier and the White Helmets, the possibility of foul play must surely form part of the Turkish authorities’ investigation into his death,’ a spokesman said. 

‘We will be watching the outcome of Turkey’s investigation into Mr Le Mesurier’s death very closely.’  

Last week, a top Russian official had alleged Le Mesurier was a spy – a claim Britain strongly denies. 

The Syrian government and its allies, including Russia, have been critical of the White Helmets volunteers, accusing them of being agents of foreign powers, terrorists working in rebel-controlled areas and of staging chemical attacks. 

Just days before he died, Mr Le Mesurier was accused of being a spy in a tweet by the Russian Foreign Ministry

Just days before he died, Mr Le Mesurier was accused of being a spy in a tweet by the Russian Foreign Ministry

Known officially as Syria Civil Defence, the White Helmets are a voluntary search-and-rescue group formed to respond to bombings by Syrian government forces

Known officially as Syria Civil Defence, the White Helmets are a voluntary search-and-rescue group formed to respond to bombings by Syrian government forces

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed Le Mesurier had ‘been spotted all around the world, including in the Balkans and the Middle East’. 

Specialists from Turkey’s Terror and Intelligence Department are now believed to be involved in the case. 

The Briton’s coffin was loaded on to a plane in Istanbul and repatriated to the UK on Wednesday.

Le Mesurier was the founder and chief executive of May Day Rescue, which founded and trained the White Helmets, also known as the Syria Civil Defence. 

The White Helmets group confirmed his death on its Facebook page, and offered ‘deepest condolences’ to his family. 

The group, which has had more than 3,000 volunteers in opposition-held areas, says it has saved thousands of lives since 2013. 

It has also documented Syrian government attacks on civilians and other infrastructure.  

The group has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Who are Syria’s White Helmets?

Founded in 2013, the Syria Civil Defence, or White Helmets, is a network of first responders that rescues the wounded in the aftermath of air strikes, shelling or explosions in rebel-held territory. 

The White Helmets have rescued an estimated 100,000 civilians that were trapped under rubble or caught up in fighting in battered opposition-held zones along various fronts of Syria’s seven-year conflict.

Since its formation, when Syria’s conflict was nearing its third year, more than 252 of its volunteers have died and more than 500 have been wounded.

The group’s motto — ‘To save one life is to save all of humanity’ — is drawn from a verse in the Koran, although the White Helmets insist they treat all victims, regardless of religion.

A wounded White Helmets volunteer evacuates his injured colleague following a reported air strike on the rebel-controlled town of Hammuriyeh in 2017

A wounded White Helmets volunteer evacuates his injured colleague following a reported air strike on the rebel-controlled town of Hammuriyeh in 2017

Some members have received training abroad, including in Turkey, returning to instruct colleagues on search-and-rescue techniques.

The group receives funding from a number of governments, including Britain, Germany and the United States, but also solicits individual donations to purchase equipment such as its signature hard hats.

Three years ago, a Netflix production called ‘The White Helmets’ won an Academy Award for best short documentary.

A second film on the group, named ‘Last Men in Aleppo,’ was nominated for an Oscar in 2018.

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