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SAS training deaths: Family of dead soldier 'told it was too much paperwork' to change timing of march through Brecon Beacons because of heat SAS training deaths inquest: Bureaucracy blamed for failure to cancel march in scorching heat that led to the deaths of three reservists
(about 4 hours later)
Relatives of a young soldier who died during SAS selection exercises in the Brecon Beacons were told that it would have been "too much paperwork" to cancel the march because of the heat, an inquest has heard. Bureaucracy was blamed for a failure to postpone an SAS training march in scorching heat which resulted in the deaths of several army reservists, a coroner heard yesterday. The admission was made by a senior officer, according to the relatives of one of those who died, 24-year-old Lance Corporal Craig Roberts.
An unnamed Army officer is alleged to have made the remark to the family of Lance Corporal Craig Roberts shortly after they had viewed his body in a mortuary. The unnamed commanding officer is alleged to have told the young soldier’s family it would have been “too much paperwork” to cancel the 16-mile (26km) march, shortly after they had viewed the body of L/Cpl Roberts in a mortuary.
The 24-year-old was one of three soldiers who died after marching with 49lb (22kg) backpacks on one of the hottest days of the year in 2013. Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, who died aged 24 after an SAS exercise in the Brecon Beacons in 2013 An inquest into the deaths of L/Cpl Roberts, L/Cpl Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby, heard that the men collapsed on Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons in South Wales on July 13th 2013, when temperatures reached more than 27C (80F).
The reservists were in a group of 78 troops training for the elite unit on South Wales’s highest peak, Pen Y Fan, on 13 July. In a family statement read to the hearing by her lawyer, L/Cpl Roberts' mother Margaret questioned why her son was “sent up there in that heat.” They were informed of his death at 11.30pm that night. In the statement, his relatives said they asked a commanding officer whether the timing of the march could have been changed. “He replied 'There would be too much paperwork'. We were so angry with this answer. We were being told that the march wasn't cancelled to save on paperwork.” Lance Corporal Edward Maher, who died after an SAS training exercise in 2013
L/Cpl Roberts, from Conwy, died on the mountainside, while Lance Corporal Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby, both 31, died later in hospital. Born in North Wales, L/Cpl Roberts joined the Army reserves while studying at the University of Leicester. The banking and finance graduate, who  had served with the Royal Anglian Regiment in Cyprus, had told his family of his desire to join the reserve special forces. “We were concerned, well actually terrified, about where he might be sent and the danger he might be put in. But it didn't occur to us to be worried about training,” said the statement. “We are proud to be his parents. In the days and weeks that followed Craig's death we asked ourselves why he and others were sent up there in that heat. We hope this inquest can answer that question,” it added.
In a family statement read to the hearing by her lawyer, L/Cpl Roberts' mother Margaret questioned why her son was ever “sent up there in that heat”. The inquest, being heard in Solihull, West Midlands, is expected to take up to four weeks and will investigate the circumstances in which almost 80 soldiers were sent on the march. The effects of the heat that day were fatal to L/Cpl Roberts, who was pronounced dead on the mountainside, while L/Cpl Maher and Cpl Dunsby, both 31, died after being taken to hospital.
In their statement, family members said they asked a commanding officer whether the timing of the march could have been changed while visiting a hospital in South Wales. Corporal James Dunsby, who died aged 31 after an SAS training exercise in 2013 “It's important this inquest is both prompt, effective and independent and involves the families. It's also important that the full facts are brought to light, culpability and discreditable conduct exposed and suspicion of deliberate wrongdoing is allayed,” said Louise Hunt, senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull. 
“He replied 'There would be too much paperwork',” the statement added. She said 78 soldiers, 37 of whom were reservists, carrying backpacks weighing at least 49lb (22kg) - not including their food and water - had set out on the march. “We will hear evidence in relation to the fact it ended up being one of hottest days of that year with temperatures predicted to reach 27C (80.6F).” Corporal James Dunsby, who died after an SAS training exercise in 2013
“We were so angry with this answer. We were being told that the march wasn't cancelled to save on paperwork.” Detective Constable David Gilbert of Dyfed-Powys Police told the inquest that GPS trackers showed where those who died had collapsed. At 3.36pm, L/Cpl Roberts activated his distress beacon, and was found 25 minutes later. L/Cpl Maher’s tracker showed he stopped at 4.10pm, about 1,000 yards from the finish. He was not found for another 45 minutes. Referring to Cpl Dunsby, Mr Gilbert said: “At 4.10pm, he was noted as not making any progress, but at 4.52pm he was actually found by directing staff.”
Opening the inquest today, Louise Hunt, the senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, said it would bring the “full facts” to light and expose any “culpability and discreditable conduct” The inquest also heard how a number of other soldiers collapsed. Between 12.14pm and 4.53pm, at least nine soldiers were recorded as having problems with the heat, including the three who died. And one told medics he was disorientated and hallucinating. One reservist, referred to as 1X, had to be airlifted to hospital after he passed out and was found by a couple out walking. “I told them I was out of water and (the man) ran down (to a stream) and filled up a two-litre bottle of water,” he said. “There wasn't a trace of wind at all that day and I didn't manage to cool down as I'd expect.”
“Those that lost a relative will at least have satisfaction of knowing any lessons learned from the death may save the lives of others,” she added. Lance Corporal Edward Maher, who died aged 31 after an SAS training exercise in 2013 The inquest, which was supposed to begin late last year, was delayed while the Crown Prosecution Service reviewed a decision, which remains unchanged, not to bring charges of gross negligence manslaughter over the deaths.
Ms Hunt said the test march was over 16.4 miles and required candidates to carry rucksacks weighing 49lb, not including food and water, on a day forecast to reach 27C. The inquest continues.
Concerns were raised for the three men who died as they became unwell, she added, and the inquest will examine whether the exercise should have been aborted or changed in light of the conditions, and how quickly the soldiers got medical help.
Cpl Dunsby’s wife Bryher Dunsby said her husband, who had served with the Household Cavalry in Afghanistan, was “exceptionally fit” and a trained medic. The widow of Cpl James Dunsby, Bryher Dunsby (centre), arriving at Solihull Council offices for the inquest on Monday
“I have to do right by him,” she said while giving evidence at the inquest.
It was due to take place at the end of last year but was delayed for eight months while the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reviewed its decision not to bring charges of gross negligence manslaughter in the case.
The CPS has since found that its original decision not to prosecute was correct.
Additional reporting by PA