Former marine Craig Ainsworth - who worked as a bodyguard for the Beckhams more than 10 years ago - has been found dead after suddenly going missing in Spain.
A source told The Sun that Craig's mother, Sally, announced the sad news on social media over the weekend after posting an appeal for information about her missing son. It is not yet clear where the former soldier was found or how he died.
"Craig has been found. With great sadness, the world has lost Craig. He served in Afghanistan and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder," Sally said. Craig Ainsworth's mother posted a photo of her son in uniform with the caption "Rest in peace Craig."
A few days ago, the former Marine's Facebook page featured what was believed to be a farewell post. "Goodbye beautiful human beings. To be alive is the rarest thing in the world. Most people survive, that's all. This may come as a shock to most of you, but I have suffered the most terrible pain in the past four years since the lockdown destroyed everything I had built, and I lost some truly wonderful people I was proud to call friends and colleagues," the post began.
In the post, the former bodyguard thanked his fellow Marines and told them not to be angry or sad that he was now free. "You have been the light that has kept me going all this time, I don't know how to thank you all. I have lived the life of ten men. I lived it with a pure heart and good intentions. Certainly not a perfect man but I lived it." Craig wrote that he did not want a funeral but instead cremated his body and scattered his ashes at sea.
Craig Ainsworth, believed to be 40, worked with the Beckhams from 2013 to 2015 when they lived in their mansion in Holland Park, London. He was hired by US security firm Gavin De Becker to protect the former England midfielder's family, under a 50-year non-disclosure agreement.
In the Beckham documentary, due to air in 2023, Craig said: "David is glamorous and Victoria is reserved. She's often with the kids or at work. With the attention they get, their children are very well behaved. To have that level of fame and maintain family cohesion, they must be doing something right."
The former Marine had to pass a series of tests, including pepper spray in the eyes and a shadow fight with an MMA fighter, to become a bodyguard. He has worked with Hollywood stars including Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lawrence and Arnold Schwarzengger.