A soldier died after he tried to grab his mobile phone when he dropped it over a balcony while speaking to a friend on the phone.

Neighbors heard Lance Corporal Nicholas Githaiga’s friend frantically shouting for him on loudspeaker after he fell three stories to his death.

An inquest heard that the 32-year-old was at the window smoking a cigarette when the phone fell from his hand.

Discharge

He desperately tried to grab hold of it, but instead fell out of the window to his death. Based in Germany, L Cpl Githaiga was due for a medical discharge from the army and had been suffering from stress.

Eva Muthoni, had been on the phone to L Cpl Githaiga at the time of his death.

Eva, who lives in South Africa, said: ‘He was a very happy person. It was common for him to phone me if he was stressed and if he had been drinking. When we were on the phone I could tell he was drunk.’

The father of two had been married but his wife Danielle had tried to have him arrested for drink driving.

Daniella Pigurs, complained to German police that Nicholas had been drink driving but the charges were not followed up.

Arrested

Eva Muthoni added: ‘Daniella had been trying to get him arrested for drink driving. He was worried and wanted to go and see his family. He explained to me that he was going through divorce proceedings.’

‘About two hours after the conversation had started he said, “My phone is falling. Wait, wait.” ‘We were on loudspeaker, so I could hear him. Then there was a small bang. I repeatedly called his name but there was silence.'