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SAS selection deaths: Sick soldier 'told to continue' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A soldier has claimed he was told to continue on an SAS selection exercise in the Brecon Beacons despite suffering from heat illness, an inquest heard. | |
He said he had a nosebleed and had run out of water but was told to continue despite a medic's advice to stop. | |
The soldier, known as 1W, later suffered kidney and heart damage. | |
The 16-mile (26km) march on 2013's hottest day resulted in the deaths of L/Cpl Craig Roberts, from Conwy, L/Cpl Edward Maher and Cpl James Dunsby. | |
All three died from overheating. | |
The soldier told a West Midlands inquest he was sick, had a nosebleed and had no water, but was told to carry on. | |
Known as 1W to protect his identity, the man said a medic had advised him to pull out of the hike, but another colleague told him to continue. | |
The soldier did so but admitted he was confused and his route was "sporadic". | |
He was later helped down the mountain by a walker and taken to hospital to recover from heart and kidney damage. | |
"If there was a chance I could finish this march, I wasn't going to question this decision making, I was going to finish it," he told the inquest. | |
"If I'm being told to continue, then I'll continue." | |
But when he was asked by the lawyer for the Ministry of Defence whether he could have been more frank with the medic, the soldier said: "I think so, yes." | |
The lawyer went on: "But nonetheless you were directed to continue? That can't be right, can it, because this is a voluntary course - you weren't ordered to continue were you?" | |
The soldier replied: "I was allowed to continue, I wasn't ordered, that is correct." | |
'Found unconscious' | |
Earlier, an SAS reservist, known as 1X, said he did not think soaring temperatures would affect the march. | |
But he was later found unconscious by walkers who fed him food and water. | But he was later found unconscious by walkers who fed him food and water. |
"I did feel fit and ready and I was fit, above average fitness certainly… I certainly didn't feel that the temperature was going to cause any problems," he said. | "I did feel fit and ready and I was fit, above average fitness certainly… I certainly didn't feel that the temperature was going to cause any problems," he said. |
However, the soldier started to feel dizzy and was later fed water and chocolate by walkers who found him unconscious. | |
On Monday, the inquest heard an Army officer told the family of L/Cpl Roberts there would have been "too much paperwork" to cancel the march. | On Monday, the inquest heard an Army officer told the family of L/Cpl Roberts there would have been "too much paperwork" to cancel the march. |
He allegedly made the remarks after relatives had viewed the soldier's body in the mortuary. | He allegedly made the remarks after relatives had viewed the soldier's body in the mortuary. |
Criminal charges will not be brought over the deaths. | Criminal charges will not be brought over the deaths. |
It was one of the hottest days of the year on 13 July 2013, with temperatures expected to hit 27C (80.6F). The soldiers were carrying 49lb (22kg) rucksacks. | It was one of the hottest days of the year on 13 July 2013, with temperatures expected to hit 27C (80.6F). The soldiers were carrying 49lb (22kg) rucksacks. |
The inquest, being heard in Solihull, is expected to last for up to four weeks and to examine risk-assessments, briefings and the amount of water given to soldiers before they set off. | The inquest, being heard in Solihull, is expected to last for up to four weeks and to examine risk-assessments, briefings and the amount of water given to soldiers before they set off. |
Det Con David Gilbert, of Dyfed-Powys Police, told the inquest course information showed several soldiers were pulled off the march because of the heat. | Det Con David Gilbert, of Dyfed-Powys Police, told the inquest course information showed several soldiers were pulled off the march because of the heat. |
The tracking data of those who died was also able to show exactly where they succumbed to conditions. | The tracking data of those who died was also able to show exactly where they succumbed to conditions. |
At least nine soldiers were recorded as having problems with the heat, including the three who died. | At least nine soldiers were recorded as having problems with the heat, including the three who died. |