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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MoD criticised over soldier death | MoD criticised over soldier death |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A British soldier who was crushed while repairing a tank in Afghanistan died because his regiment was not provided with proper equipment, a coroner ruled. | A British soldier who was crushed while repairing a tank in Afghanistan died because his regiment was not provided with proper equipment, a coroner ruled. |
| L/Cpl Sean Tansey, 26, of Newcastle, died in August 2006 as he repaired a Scimitar tank in the Helmand province. | |
| Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Andrew Walker said the soldier's death had been contributed to by neglect. | Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Andrew Walker said the soldier's death had been contributed to by neglect. |
| He said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) should have provided wooden planks to put under the vehicle should it fall. | He said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) should have provided wooden planks to put under the vehicle should it fall. |
| L/Cpl Tansey, of the Household Cavalry Regiment, joined the Lifeguards in May 1999 and spent most of his time within the Reconnaissance Sabre Troops. | L/Cpl Tansey, of the Household Cavalry Regiment, joined the Lifeguards in May 1999 and spent most of his time within the Reconnaissance Sabre Troops. |
| 'Serious failure' | 'Serious failure' |
| Oxfordshire coroner Mr Walker attacked the failure of both training and equipment supplies provided by the MoD, which he ruled contributed to the death on 12 August, 2006. | Oxfordshire coroner Mr Walker attacked the failure of both training and equipment supplies provided by the MoD, which he ruled contributed to the death on 12 August, 2006. |
| He said: "The training and equipment were inadequate for the repair of this vehicle. | He said: "The training and equipment were inadequate for the repair of this vehicle. |
| "This court has heard evidence of the failure to provide basic equipment for the maintenance of vehicles, which has been described by one witness as amounting to a gross or serious failure. | "This court has heard evidence of the failure to provide basic equipment for the maintenance of vehicles, which has been described by one witness as amounting to a gross or serious failure. |
| There was a big clunk. The vehicle pitched forwards and Sean's head was underneath it L/Cpl Edward Sampson | There was a big clunk. The vehicle pitched forwards and Sean's head was underneath it L/Cpl Edward Sampson |
| "It is quite unfair that the soldiers should be criticised when their training was not adequate and their equipment was not sufficient." | "It is quite unfair that the soldiers should be criticised when their training was not adequate and their equipment was not sufficient." |
| L/Cpl Tansey's case is not the first soldiers' death in Afganistan to attract criticism because of lack of equipment. | |
| Earlier this month an Oxford coroner ruled Capt James Philippson, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, was unlawfully killed during a firefight, because he was not wearing night vision goggles. | |
| The MoD had admitted vital equipment was sent to Afghanistan 25 days late, arriving after the 29-year-old, of 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, died in June 2006. | |
| L/Cpl Tansey's inquest heard that cushioning planks, known as "skidding", would have saved the soldier's life. | |
| L/Cpl Edward Sampson, who was helping to repair the tank's broken torsion bar, said the team had no proper wooden planks. | L/Cpl Edward Sampson, who was helping to repair the tank's broken torsion bar, said the team had no proper wooden planks. |
| He told the court: "There was a big clunk. The vehicle pitched forwards and Sean's head was underneath it." | He told the court: "There was a big clunk. The vehicle pitched forwards and Sean's head was underneath it." |
| Repair 'theory' | Repair 'theory' |
| When the coroner asked if soldiers could refuse to do repair work on health and safety grounds, L/Cpl Sampson answered: "That's not the way the army works. If you are told to do something you do it." | When the coroner asked if soldiers could refuse to do repair work on health and safety grounds, L/Cpl Sampson answered: "That's not the way the army works. If you are told to do something you do it." |
| The court heard the only other source of wood was a nearby orchard. | The court heard the only other source of wood was a nearby orchard. |
| The coroner commented: "This was a matter for the MoD. It shouldn't be for soldiers to go foraging in a hostile environment to find chocks and skidding." | The coroner commented: "This was a matter for the MoD. It shouldn't be for soldiers to go foraging in a hostile environment to find chocks and skidding." |
| The soldiers had also only been taught the theory behind the particular repair job, the court was told. | The soldiers had also only been taught the theory behind the particular repair job, the court was told. |
| Mr Walker said he would be writing to the MoD to ensure that skidding was included in all vehicle kits. | Mr Walker said he would be writing to the MoD to ensure that skidding was included in all vehicle kits. |
| In a statement, a MoD spokesman said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family, friends and colleagues of Lance Corporal Sean Tansey at this difficult time. | In a statement, a MoD spokesman said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family, friends and colleagues of Lance Corporal Sean Tansey at this difficult time. |
| "We note the coroner's comments and will ensure that lessons are learnt from this tragic incident." | "We note the coroner's comments and will ensure that lessons are learnt from this tragic incident." |