Spanish authorities found Craig Ainsworth, a former trusted bodyguard for David and Victoria Beckham, dead in Spain on Sunday, April 6, 2025, after a days-long search between Alicante and Barcelona.
Craig Ainsworth’s mother, Sally Ainsworth, confirmed the heartbreaking news via a poignant Facebook post, revealing that the 40-year-old ex-Royal Marine had succumbed after a prolonged struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his Afghanistan service. “They’ve found Craig. With great sadness, the world has lost him. He suffered from PTSD. RIP Craig,” she wrote, prompting an outpouring of condolences online.
Ex-Royal Marine Craig Ainsworth & former bodyguard to the Beckhams has been found dead in Spain pic.twitter.com/5yCqmdq8tF
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) April 7, 2025Before vanishing, Ainsworth left a chilling farewell note on social media, hinting at his inner turmoil. “Goodbye, beautiful people. Living is rare; most exist. Lockdown destroyed everything I built, and I lost amazing friends,” he penned, reflecting on four years of pain since 2020. “I’m free now; don’t be mad,” he urged, adding, “I lived life, imperfections and all. If you’re struggling, seek help, but don’t follow me. I’m at peace now, a peace I never found in life.”
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Authorities are investigating a possible suicide, supported by this note and his documented PTSD, according to mental health experts familiar with cases involving veterans.
Craig Ainsworth was a bodyguard to celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence and Arnold Schwarzenegger. #DailyExpress https://t.co/931V2rqaC8 pic.twitter.com/uSdIn0oxUq
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) April 7, 2025Ainsworth’s career dazzled—he guarded A-listers like Johnny Depp alongside the Beckhams from 2013-2015 yet his battle with PTSD, a condition affecting 5% of U.S. adults yearly per the CDC, defined his later years. Sally’s post, verified by close family ties, and his own words paint a trusted portrait of resilience and loss. As a Royal Marine veteran, his story echoes many, says Dr. Amina Khalid, a PTSD specialist with 15 years of research, noting, “Veterans often mask deep pain.” His legacy now rests in peace, leaving a call for awareness.
