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Soldier tried to push through sickness to finish test march on which three died Heat-affected soldier was told to carry on march in which three colleagues died
(about 2 hours later)
A soldier has told an inquest of his determination to complete a special forces test march, on which three men fell ill and died, no matter how terrible he felt. A soldier was told to try to finish a special forces test march during which three men fell ill and died though a medic had said he ought to stop because his life was at risk, a coroner has heard.
The man, identified only as soldier 1X, described how he fell unconscious after suffering from heat illness during the march on the Brecon Beacons in south Wales and was helped by civilian walkers. The man, identified only as Soldier 1W, described how he felt dizzy, confused and suffered a nose bleed after running out of water during the SAS mountain test on a very hot and windless day.
Soldier 1X said he was a “stubborn individual” who intended to finish the march despite feeling sick and dizzy and not able to sweat. “There are always low points,” he said, adding that the point of the training was to push beyond what you thought your limits were. He said he felt relieved when a medic assessed him and pulled him off the march, telling him: “You want to wake up in the morning; you don’t want to die.”
1X told the inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, that he tried to look better than he felt when he went through checkpoints staffed by instructors. He said the usual answer to the question: “Are you OK?” was “Yes staff”, even if you felt dreadful. But 1W carried on after the chief instructor on the exercise was consulted. He collapsed again as he approached the peak of Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, the highest mountain in southern Britain. He was taken to hospital and was treated for damage to his kidneys and heart caused by heat illness.
Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, 24, Lance Corporal Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby, both 31, died after suffering hyperthermia during the SAS test on a hot, windless day. The exercise was conducted on and around Pen Y Fan, the highest mountain in southern Britain, in July 2013. Three army reservists – Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, 24, Lance Corporal Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby, both 31 – died after suffering hyperthermia during the test in July 2013.
The coroner’s court has heard a claim that the test march was not called off because of the paperwork that a cancellation would have created. The coroner’s court in Solihull, West Midlands, has heard a claim that the test march was not called off because of the paperwork a cancellation would have created.
Margaret Roberts, the mother of Craig, said that when she went to identify her son’s body she asked why the march had not been delayed because of the heat. At least seven, and possibly as many as 10, candidates (all reservists) suffered heat illness as temperatures reached reach 27C (80.6F).
In a statement read out at the inquest, Roberts said: “We asked why the march could not have waited.” She alleged that an unnamed officer told her: “There would be too much paperwork to postpone it.” Roberts added: “We were so angry at that. We were being told the march had not been cancelled to save paperwork.” Among them was 1W, who had been a reservist for a year when he put himself forward for selection. He said he could not recall being advised about the heat before the march and he was not aware that there would be no water at two of the five checkpoints the men had to pass through. “My understanding was there would be water at each checkpoint,” 1W said.
The inquest has heard that temperatures reached reach 27C (80.6F) and winds were unusually light. As temperatures built during the day, at least seven and possibly 10 men in addition to the three who died suffered from heat illness. All of those who suffered heat illness were reservists. Early on during the 16-mile march, Soldier 1W began to struggle. He quickly got through his water and noticed that his urine was dark – a sign of dehydration. When he reached the next checkpoint he discovered there was no water.
It has emerged that there was no water at two of the five checkpoints on the routes and no medics at three of them, and concerns have surfaced about some of the equipment the candidates had and the length of time it took soldiers who were in trouble to be found and evacuated. He was asked by directing staff how he was and replied by drawing his hand across his neck, indicating that he was not feeling good. But he said he did not recall being asked if he had any water.
Seventy-eight soldiers carrying backpacks weighing at least 49lb (22kg) set out on the march, which covered 16.4 miles (26.4km) as the crow flies, though in practice the men covered around 18 miles – and the candidates had to complete the test within eight hours and 48 minutes. 1W said he carried on and his nose began to bleed. Later a fellow soldier found him slumped on his rucksack. “I felt dizzy, weak, sick, my nose was bleeding, I felt confused ... I wasn’t thinking straight,” he said. The other soldier helped him to a pool and lay him in the stagnant water.
The hearing is exploring issues including how the exercise was planned, what checks were made about the weather, emergency procedures and how much water was available. It will look at whether the exercise should have been called off when reservists started to suffer. He reached the next checkpoint, where the medic initially withdrew him. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was relieved,” said 1W. But he was also glad when he was subsequently told to carry on. “I wanted to finish this march,” he said. He was given a drink by a civilian walker as he climbed Pen y Fan but collapsed. “I fell on the floor and was out,” he said.
Many witnesses will give evidence from behind a screen and be identified only by letters and numbers. The SAS has not been directly referred to during the hearing – the phrase being used is specialist military units. 1W was walked off the mountain by another civilian hiker and taken to hospital in the same ambulance as James Dunsby. He suffered no lasting physical damage.
1X told the inquest that he began the exercise very quickly. He said nobody had given him advice about pacing himself. He said he began to feel ill and eventually sought shelter from the heat, still intending to finish the course, but fell unconscious. Asked why he had continued, 1W told the inquest: “I wasn’t going to withdraw myself.” The soldier said his understanding was that if a candidate is medically withdrawn he could re-take the test. If he voluntarily withdrew, he was not allowed to do so.
After being found by two civilian walkers he was evacuated to hospital. “I pushed myself hard; I just wanted to get to the end,” he said. Another soldier, 1X, who also suffered heat illness that day, described how he also had to be helped by civilian walkers.
The inquest continues. Soldier 1X said he was a “stubborn individual” who intended to finish the march. “There are always low-points,” he said, adding that the point of the training was to push beyond what you thought your limits were.
1X also told the inquest that he always tried to look better than he felt when he went through checkpoints. He said that the “usual answer” to the question: “Are you okay?” was: “Yes staff” even if you felt dreadful.
Soldier 1X told the inquest how he had gone off very quickly. He said nobody had given him advice about pacing himself. He told how he began to feel sick and dizzy and stopped sweating. He finally sought shelter from the heat, still intending to finish the course, but fell unconscious. After being found by two civilian walkers he was evacuated to hospital. “I pushed myself hard; I just wanted to get to the end,” he said.
Seventy eight soldiers carrying backpacks weighing at least 49lb (22kg) had set out on the march, which they had to complete within eight hours and 48 minutes.
The hearing, expected to last four weeks, is to explore issues including how the exercise was planned, what checks were made about the weather, emergency procedures and what water was available. It will look at whether the exercise should have been aborted when reservists started to suffer.