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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/05/sas-brecon-beacons-inquest-medic-civilian-rescuers-standby
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| SAS inquest: medic says civilian rescuers should have been on standby | SAS inquest: medic says civilian rescuers should have been on standby |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An army medic has accepted that civilian emergency services should have been put on standby on the day an ill-fated SAS test march took place in soaring temperatures. | An army medic has accepted that civilian emergency services should have been put on standby on the day an ill-fated SAS test march took place in soaring temperatures. |
| The soldier also conceded that he had not considered the problem of getting a mobile phone signal to dial 999 in the remote mountain terrain where the test march took place, an inquest into the deaths of three SAS candidates who suffered heat illness during the march heard on Friday. | The soldier also conceded that he had not considered the problem of getting a mobile phone signal to dial 999 in the remote mountain terrain where the test march took place, an inquest into the deaths of three SAS candidates who suffered heat illness during the march heard on Friday. |
| In addition, the medic admitted he had not read official guidance that says an exercise should be halted, if operationally possible, if someone suffers a heat illness. | In addition, the medic admitted he had not read official guidance that says an exercise should be halted, if operationally possible, if someone suffers a heat illness. |
| Three army reservists – Lance CorpCraig Roberts, 24, Lance Corp Edward Maher and Corp James Dunsby, both 31 – died after suffering hyperthermia as temperatures reached 27C (80.6F) during the 16-mile test in July 2013. At least seven more reservists suffered heat injuries. | Three army reservists – Lance CorpCraig Roberts, 24, Lance Corp Edward Maher and Corp James Dunsby, both 31 – died after suffering hyperthermia as temperatures reached 27C (80.6F) during the 16-mile test in July 2013. At least seven more reservists suffered heat injuries. |
| The inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, heard a claim that the march was not called off because that would have caused too much paperwork. Candidates have given vivid accounts of running out of water, collapsing in the heat and having to be helped by civilians. | |
| Concerns have been raised over how long it took for civilian medics to reach the spot in the Brecon Beacons where the test took place and how difficult it was to communicate with emergency workers by mobile phone. | Concerns have been raised over how long it took for civilian medics to reach the spot in the Brecon Beacons where the test took place and how difficult it was to communicate with emergency workers by mobile phone. |
| Codenamed 1H, the medic told the inquest he had drawn up the medical plan for the test march. The coroner, Louise Hunt, asked 1H if the ambulance and air ambulance should have been warned that an exercise was going ahead in the very hot weather. | |
| Related: Brecon Beacons inquest: SAS instructor 'not aware' of heat illness guidance | Related: Brecon Beacons inquest: SAS instructor 'not aware' of heat illness guidance |
| He replied: “In hindsight they maybe should have been put on standby. I didn’t think to.” He added that mountain rescue teams did know when marches were taking place – but he did not know if they were officially informed or just got to hear about them. | He replied: “In hindsight they maybe should have been put on standby. I didn’t think to.” He added that mountain rescue teams did know when marches were taking place – but he did not know if they were officially informed or just got to hear about them. |
| The coroner asked if he had thought about the “erratic” mobile phone coverage in the hills. 1H replied: “I guess not.” | The coroner asked if he had thought about the “erratic” mobile phone coverage in the hills. 1H replied: “I guess not.” |
| The medic was the second soldier involved in overseeing the test to admit that he had not read the Ministry of Defence’s code of practice, set out in a document entitled JSP539, stating that if there is a case of heat illness, an activity should stop. | The medic was the second soldier involved in overseeing the test to admit that he had not read the Ministry of Defence’s code of practice, set out in a document entitled JSP539, stating that if there is a case of heat illness, an activity should stop. |
| He told the coroner: “I wasn’t aware all activity had to be stopped. I wasn’t aware of that, no.” Of the document, he said: “You are basically told you don’t have to read it.” | |
| Asked if he had discussed with senior officers the need to be vigilant because of the possibility of heat illness, he simply replied: “All of us knew it was going to be hot.” | Asked if he had discussed with senior officers the need to be vigilant because of the possibility of heat illness, he simply replied: “All of us knew it was going to be hot.” |
| 1H helped a candidate codenamed 2P, who suffered heat illness, at 12.46pm that day. Asked about his condition, he said: “I have seen worse in Kenya and places like that. On a scale of one to 10, he was a six maybe.” | 1H helped a candidate codenamed 2P, who suffered heat illness, at 12.46pm that day. Asked about his condition, he said: “I have seen worse in Kenya and places like that. On a scale of one to 10, he was a six maybe.” |