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Soldier dies after incident at Castlemartin firing range in Wales Two soldiers dead after incident at Castlemartin firing range in Wales
(about 3 hours later)
A British soldier has died and three others are being treated for injuries after an incident involving a tank at a firing range. Two British soldiers have died and two others are being treated for injuries after an incident involving a tank at a firing range.
The dead soldier was a member of the Royal Tank Regiment, which has been taking part in a live-fire exercise at the Castlemartin ranges in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales. The two dead soldiers were members of the Royal Tank Regiment, which has been taking part in a live-fire exercise at the Castlemartin ranges in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales.
It is understood there was an explosion or intense fire inside the Challenger 2 tank. No other tank was involved and the Challenger was not hit by another shell. It is understood there was an explosion or intense fire inside the Challenger 2 tank when the incident occurred on Wednesday. No other tank was involved and the Challenger was not hit by another shell.
Civilian police and army investigators are investigating the incident and a ban on tank live-firing exercises has been put in place.Civilian police and army investigators are investigating the incident and a ban on tank live-firing exercises has been put in place.
The defence minister, Tobias Ellwood, said: “It is with deep sadness that I can confirm the death of a soldier from the Royal Tank Regiment who died as a result of injuries sustained in an incident at Castlemartin ranges. His next of kin were by his bedside and we will be respecting their privacy before further details are released. The defence minister, Tobias Ellwood, confirmed the first of the two deaths on Thursday morning: “It is with deep sadness that I can confirm the death of a soldier from the Royal Tank Regiment who died as a result of injuries sustained in an incident at Castlemartin ranges. His next of kin were by his bedside and we will be respecting their privacy before further details are released.”
“Three other soldiers have also been wounded and our thoughts remain with the friends and families of all those involved. The safety of our personnel is our absolute priority and a full investigation is under way to understand the details of this tragic incident.” Late on Thursday evening Ellwood confirmed a second death: “It is with great sorrow I can confirm the death of a second soldier from the Royal Tank Regiment following yesterday’s incident at Castlemartin ranges.”
He added: “[Two] other soldiers have also been wounded and our thoughts remain with the friends and families of all those involved. The safety of our personnel is our absolute priority and a full investigation is under way to understand the details of this tragic incident.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The defence accident investigation branch is conducting an investigation in conjunction with the civilian police. A ban on tank live-firing training has been put in place until the findings of the investigation are known. Further action will follow as appropriate.”A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The defence accident investigation branch is conducting an investigation in conjunction with the civilian police. A ban on tank live-firing training has been put in place until the findings of the investigation are known. Further action will follow as appropriate.”
On 7 June the regiment, whose motto is “fear naught”, posted on its Facebook page that Badger squadron had arrived in Castlemartin for its annual firing period.On 7 June the regiment, whose motto is “fear naught”, posted on its Facebook page that Badger squadron had arrived in Castlemartin for its annual firing period.
On 11 June an update showed a video of a tank firing on the range. The accompanying post said: “FIRING! Here a crew from BADGER take on a tank target in Castlemartin. FEAR NAUGHT.”On 11 June an update showed a video of a tank firing on the range. The accompanying post said: “FIRING! Here a crew from BADGER take on a tank target in Castlemartin. FEAR NAUGHT.”
The fatal incident happened on Wednesday. The soldier who later died was airlifted to hospital.
The Royal Tank Regiment is the oldest tank unit in the world and has been deployed in key conflicts since the end of the second world war. This year the regiment has conducted exercises in countries including South Korea and Jordan.The Royal Tank Regiment is the oldest tank unit in the world and has been deployed in key conflicts since the end of the second world war. This year the regiment has conducted exercises in countries including South Korea and Jordan.
A firing notice for Castlemartin on the government’s website suggests live firing was due to take place on the range from Monday to Friday.A firing notice for Castlemartin on the government’s website suggests live firing was due to take place on the range from Monday to Friday.
The police said detectives were investigating the incident with the Health and Safety Executive and the MoD.The police said detectives were investigating the incident with the Health and Safety Executive and the MoD.
A spokeswoman said: “Dyfed-Powys police were called to an incident involving a tank at MoD Royal Armoured Corps range in Castlemartin at 3.30pm yesterday (Wednesday).A spokeswoman said: “Dyfed-Powys police were called to an incident involving a tank at MoD Royal Armoured Corps range in Castlemartin at 3.30pm yesterday (Wednesday).
“Four men were injured, two were conveyed to Morriston hospital in Swansea, one to the Heath hospital in Cardiff and another to a hospital in Birmingham by air ambulance. Tragically, we can confirm the incident has resulted in the death of one of the men this morning, and the other three are in a serious condition in hospital. “Four men were injured, two were conveyed to Morriston hospital in Swansea, one to the Heath hospital in Cardiff and another to a hospital in Birmingham by air ambulance.
“All next of kin of those injured have been informed and are being supported. Our thoughts are with them.”“All next of kin of those injured have been informed and are being supported. Our thoughts are with them.”
The incident will focus attention on how potentially dangerous training exercises in the UK are run.The incident will focus attention on how potentially dangerous training exercises in the UK are run.
Five years ago Michael Maguire, a 21-year-old soldier, died when he was hit in the head by a machine-gun bullet as he rested in a supposedly safe area at Castlemartin. An inquest jury ruled he had been unlawfully killed.Five years ago Michael Maguire, a 21-year-old soldier, died when he was hit in the head by a machine-gun bullet as he rested in a supposedly safe area at Castlemartin. An inquest jury ruled he had been unlawfully killed.
The jury heard that more bullets may have whistled over the heads of Maguire’s friends as they tried to save his life, and that the lives of civilians may have been put in danger when a beach was sprayed with fire.The jury heard that more bullets may have whistled over the heads of Maguire’s friends as they tried to save his life, and that the lives of civilians may have been put in danger when a beach was sprayed with fire.
After the inquest, Maguire’s family said it was ironic that he had survived a tour of Afghanistan only to be killed while training in the UK. They criticised key personnel for refusing to answer questionsthat might have been self-incriminating.After the inquest, Maguire’s family said it was ironic that he had survived a tour of Afghanistan only to be killed while training in the UK. They criticised key personnel for refusing to answer questionsthat might have been self-incriminating.
The family said: “That has left us with unanswered questions, in particular about the actions of the people responsible for the planning of and safety on the exercise. Soldiers should not be killed in training and we hope that lessons are learned army-wide to ensure that another incident like this does not occur.”The family said: “That has left us with unanswered questions, in particular about the actions of the people responsible for the planning of and safety on the exercise. Soldiers should not be killed in training and we hope that lessons are learned army-wide to ensure that another incident like this does not occur.”
In 2015 a coroner criticised military chiefs over the planning and execution of an SAS test march on the Brecon Beacons in south Wales in which three candidates suffered fatal heat illness.In 2015 a coroner criticised military chiefs over the planning and execution of an SAS test march on the Brecon Beacons in south Wales in which three candidates suffered fatal heat illness.
Military chiefs argue that they do everything in their power to make training exercises safe, and that the nature of what they do means that it is impossible to eradicate all hazards.Military chiefs argue that they do everything in their power to make training exercises safe, and that the nature of what they do means that it is impossible to eradicate all hazards.