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Radio need 'raised before death' | Radio need 'raised before death' |
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The need for soldiers to be given radios during parachute training was raised nine months before the death of an SAS soldier, an inquest has heard. | The need for soldiers to be given radios during parachute training was raised nine months before the death of an SAS soldier, an inquest has heard. |
Capt Daniel Wright, 25, of Newport, died at Weston on the Green, Oxfordshire, on his first day of training after his canopy did not open. | Capt Daniel Wright, 25, of Newport, died at Weston on the Green, Oxfordshire, on his first day of training after his canopy did not open. |
In an e-mail, a squadron leader had said radios were "long overdue". | In an e-mail, a squadron leader had said radios were "long overdue". |
The inquest had earlier heard that "on the balance of probabilities", a radio would have saved Capt Wright's life. | The inquest had earlier heard that "on the balance of probabilities", a radio would have saved Capt Wright's life. |
It would have allowed instructors to tell Capt Wright, a member of the Queen's Gurkha Signal Corps, to cut away his parachute, the inquest had been told. | It would have allowed instructors to tell Capt Wright, a member of the Queen's Gurkha Signal Corps, to cut away his parachute, the inquest had been told. |
On Thursday, extracts of an e-mail were read out from Squadron Leader MJ Ellis, who was in charge of military training at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, from where the aircraft carrying Capt Wright took off. | |
A separate memo from a senior instructor had said radios should be issued to students "before we have a 'major' on our hands." | A separate memo from a senior instructor had said radios should be issued to students "before we have a 'major' on our hands." |
'One less fatality' | 'One less fatality' |
Capt Wright was killed after he fell 2,500ft (762m) in November 2005. The e-mails had been sent the previous February and March. | Capt Wright was killed after he fell 2,500ft (762m) in November 2005. The e-mails had been sent the previous February and March. |
In an e-mail to Sqn Ldr Ellis, a deputy made recommendations on training which included no more than two soldiers per jump, separate landing areas and the introduction of radios and instruction on their use. | In an e-mail to Sqn Ldr Ellis, a deputy made recommendations on training which included no more than two soldiers per jump, separate landing areas and the introduction of radios and instruction on their use. |
Sqn Ldr Ellis had replied that they were long overdue and expressed the need to "engage all agencies" on the matter. | Sqn Ldr Ellis had replied that they were long overdue and expressed the need to "engage all agencies" on the matter. |
Comments from soldiers on the parachute training course, which had been written on debriefing documents, were also read to the inquest. | Comments from soldiers on the parachute training course, which had been written on debriefing documents, were also read to the inquest. |
They criticised the lack of radios, too much ground training and the need for a device used in civilian jumps called a Cypres, which automatically deploys the reserve chute. | They criticised the lack of radios, too much ground training and the need for a device used in civilian jumps called a Cypres, which automatically deploys the reserve chute. |
One soldier questioned why the devices were not used and said if they had: "I believe we would have had one less fatality on this course." | One soldier questioned why the devices were not used and said if they had: "I believe we would have had one less fatality on this course." |
He added: "PTS seems more concerned with berets being worn and hands in pockets than safety." | He added: "PTS seems more concerned with berets being worn and hands in pockets than safety." |