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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 has no memory of checking rescue helicopter availability | SAS inquest: medic has no memory of checking rescue helicopter availability |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| An army combat medic has told an inquest that he cannot remember whether he checked that a military rescue helicopter was available on the day three SAS candidates suffered heat illness and died during a mountain test march. | An army combat medic has told an inquest that he cannot remember whether he checked that a military rescue helicopter was available on the day three SAS candidates suffered heat illness and died during a mountain test march. |
| The medic also accepted that it would have helped if the civilian emergency services had been forewarned that the arduous test was taking place. | The medic also accepted that it would have helped if the civilian emergency services had been forewarned that the arduous test was taking place. |
| In addition, the soldier conceded he had not taken into account the lack of a mobile phone signal to call emergency services in the Brecon Beacons, in south Wales, where the test march took place. | In addition, the soldier conceded he had not taken into account the lack of a mobile phone signal to call emergency services in the Brecon Beacons, in south Wales, where the test march took place. |
| Related: Brecon Beacons inquest: SAS instructor 'not aware' of heat illness guidance | |
| The soldier, who was in charge of planning the medical response to any emergency that day, admitted he had not read Ministry of Defence guidance stipulating that an exercise should be halted if operationally possible when someone suffers heat illness. | The soldier, who was in charge of planning the medical response to any emergency that day, admitted he had not read Ministry of Defence guidance stipulating that an exercise should be halted if operationally possible when someone suffers heat illness. |
| Three army reservists – Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, 24, Lance Corporal Edward Maher and Corporal 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 Corporal Craig Roberts, 24, Lance Corporal Edward Maher and Corporal 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 men’s inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, has heard claims that the march was not called off despite the heat because a cancellation would have generated too much paperwork. Candidates have given vivid accounts of running out of water, collapsing in the heat and having to be helped by civilians. | The men’s inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, has heard claims that the march was not called off despite the heat because a cancellation would have generated 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 medics to reach casualties and how difficult it was to communicate with civilian emergency workers by mobile phone. | Concerns have been raised over how long it took for medics to reach casualties and how difficult it was to communicate with civilian emergency workers by mobile phone. |
| On day five of the inquest it emerged that the medical plan drawn up by Soldier 1H stated that it was a “critical requirement” that a check was made that the military’s own air ambulance was flying on the day of a test march. | On day five of the inquest it emerged that the medical plan drawn up by Soldier 1H stated that it was a “critical requirement” that a check was made that the military’s own air ambulance was flying on the day of a test march. |
| Soldier 1H was asked by Alexandra Tampakopoulos, a lawyer for members of Roberts’ family, whether that check had been made. He replied: “I can’t remember if it was. I’m not sure … I can’t remember checking it myself.” | Soldier 1H was asked by Alexandra Tampakopoulos, a lawyer for members of Roberts’ family, whether that check had been made. He replied: “I can’t remember if it was. I’m not sure … I can’t remember checking it myself.” |
| The inquest heard that a civilian air ambulance from Bristol arrived on scene around an hour and a half after Roberts’ emergency “man down” alarm was activated. | The inquest heard that a civilian air ambulance from Bristol arrived on scene around an hour and a half after Roberts’ emergency “man down” alarm was activated. |
| Civilian paramedics, who were heading by road to help, were given an eight-digit grid reference for Roberts’ position, the inquest heard. 1H said he did not realise they had no way of using the grid reference to find Roberts. | Civilian paramedics, who were heading by road to help, were given an eight-digit grid reference for Roberts’ position, the inquest heard. 1H said he did not realise they had no way of using the grid reference to find Roberts. |
| Asked by the coroner Louise Hunt whether the civilian emergency services should have been warned that an exercise was going ahead in the very hot weather, 1H said: “In hindsight they maybe should have been put on standby.” | Asked by the coroner Louise Hunt whether the civilian emergency services should have been warned that an exercise was going ahead in the very hot weather, 1H said: “In hindsight they maybe should have been put on standby.” |
| He said mountain rescue teams knew when marches were taking place, but he did not know whether they were officially informed or just got to hear about them. | He said mountain rescue teams knew when marches were taking place, but he did not know whether they were officially informed or just got to hear about them. |
| The coroner asked 1H whether he had thought about the “erratic” mobile phone coverage in the hills. He replied: “I guess not.” | The coroner asked 1H whether he had thought about the “erratic” mobile phone coverage in the hills. He replied: “I guess not.” |
| The inquest heard that when soldiers went to help Roberts after he collapsed, one had to move 300 metres away from him before he could get a mobile signal. | The inquest heard that when soldiers went to help Roberts after he collapsed, one had to move 300 metres away from him before he could get a mobile signal. |
| 1H was the second soldier to admit that he had not read the Ministry of Defence’s code of practice set out in a document called JSP539, stating that if there is a case of heat illness an activity should stop if operationally possible. | 1H was the second soldier to admit that he had not read the Ministry of Defence’s code of practice set out in a document called JSP539, stating that if there is a case of heat illness an activity should stop if operationally possible. |
| He said: “I wasn’t aware all activity had to be stopped. I wasn’t aware of that, no.” He said of the document: “You are basically told you don’t have to read it.” | He said: “I wasn’t aware all activity had to be stopped. I wasn’t aware of that, no.” He said of the document: “You are basically told you don’t have to read it.” |