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Two sailors killed on submarine Two sailors killed on submarine
(20 minutes later)
Two British sailors have died in an incident on a nuclear submarine. Two British sailors have died in an accident on a nuclear submarine.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed an incident had taken place on HMS Tireless during an exercise in the Arctic on Wednesday morning. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed an incident had taken place on HMS Tireless during an exercise under the Arctic icecap at 0420 GMT on Wednesday.
One other member of the crew of the Devonport-based submarine was injured and is receiving medical treatment.One other member of the crew of the Devonport-based submarine was injured and is receiving medical treatment.
The accident did not involve the nuclear reactor or its weapons systems. The vessel, an SSN Attack Submarine, is safe and on the surface. Air-purification equipment is thought to have caused the accident. The MoD expressed its "deep regret" and said the vessel was safe and on the surface.
The MoD said the reactor was unaffected by the accident and stressed it is not one of the submarines that carries Trident missiles. The SSN Attack Submarine was on a joint British-American exercise in the Arctic. The MoD said the reactor was unaffected by the accident and stressed it was not one of the submarines that carries Trident missiles.
I very much regret that this incident has occurred and my thoughts go out to the family and friends of the men who have lost their live Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent
A piece of air-purification equipment in the forward section of the submarine was thought to be responsible for the accident, the MoD spokesman said.
The dead sailors' next of kin have been informed.The dead sailors' next of kin have been informed.
The accident took place while the submarine was submerged under the Arctic icecap during a joint British-American exercise, an MoD spokesman said. An injured sailor was airlifted to a US military hospital with non life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
A piece of air-purification equipment in the forward section of the submarine was thought to be responsible for the accident, he added. In a statement, the MoD said: "The two members of the crew died as a result of the initial accident.
"Their next of kin have been informed and our sympathies are with them and their friends at this difficult time."
HMS TIRELESS Trafalgar class submarineCrew: 130Length:85.4mArmament: Can carry Spearfish Torpedoes and Tomahawk MissilesSource: Royal Navy Military fact file
The MoD said the ship's company dealt with the incident "quickly and professionally" and, as a result, there was only superficial damage to the forward compartment.
"The submarine was never in any danger, its nuclear reactor was unaffected, it quickly surfaced and is completely safe," the MOD added.
Tireless was launched in 1985, but the piece of air-purification machinery thought to have failed was fitted as part of an update in 2001.
The piece of equipment which malfunctioned is fitted to all Trafalgar Class submarines.
Safety checks
The MoD said it had a 100% safety record to date but, as a precaution, its use on other boats would be restricted until safety checks could be carried out.
Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent, Commander-In-Chief Fleet, said: "I very much regret that this incident has occurred and my thoughts go out to the family and friends of the men who have lost their lives.
"I also wish to pay tribute to the crew of HMS Tireless that this incident has been dealt with and contained so professionally."
The Tireless has caused controversy in the past.
In May 2003 it was taken to Scotland for repairs and prompted a MoD inquiry after it collided with an object at sea.
In 2001, its presence in Gibraltar put a strain on relations with Spain and caused outrage among environmentalists.