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Radio need 'raised before death' Radio need 'raised before death'
(1 day later)
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 a Special Forces captain died, an inquest 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.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."