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Hiker tried to help heat-stricken SAS hopeful, inquest hears Hiker tried to help heat-stricken SAS hopeful, inquest hears
(35 minutes later)
A walker tried desperately to help save an SAS candidate who was stricken by heat illness and later died during a test march on the Brecon Beacons, an inquest heard. A walker tried desperately to help save an SAS candidate who was stricken by heat illness during a test march on the Brecon Beacons, an inquest heard.
The passerby, who has not been named, fanned Cpl James Dunsby as he was stretchered down the Welsh hillside and held his head to try to help him breathe.The passerby, who has not been named, fanned Cpl James Dunsby as he was stretchered down the Welsh hillside and held his head to try to help him breathe.
Dunsby, one of three special forces candidates who suffered a fatal heat illness during the exercise on a hot summer’s day, was racing to reach the final checkpoint when he fell unconscious.Dunsby, one of three special forces candidates who suffered a fatal heat illness during the exercise on a hot summer’s day, was racing to reach the final checkpoint when he fell unconscious.
Earlier the inquest heard a suggestion – challenged by the Ministry of Defence – that it may have taken up to 52 minutes for the first rescuer to get to Dunsby, 31, though he collapsed close to a main road and the finish line. Earlier, the inquest into the deaths heard a suggestion – challenged by the Ministry of Defence – that it might have taken up to 52 minutes for the first rescuer to get to Dunsby, 31, though he collapsed close to a main road and the finish line.
On Tuesday, a regular soldier helping direct the march – known only by his cipher 1K – told the inquest at Solihull, West Midlands, how a passing walker offered to help tend to Dunsby. On Tuesday, a regular soldier helping to direct the march – known only by his cipher 1K – told the inquest at Solihull, West Midlands, that a passing walker offered to tend to Dunsby.
1K said: “I tasked him to ensure the casualty was fanned down during the extraction. The casualty was unconscious and unresponsive. He was laid on his side in a recovery position. I was conscious to the fact we needed to cool him.”1K said: “I tasked him to ensure the casualty was fanned down during the extraction. The casualty was unconscious and unresponsive. He was laid on his side in a recovery position. I was conscious to the fact we needed to cool him.”
When the stretcher party reached a car park, the civilian ambulance that had been called was not there. “We had to wait for the ambulance to arrive,” 1K said.When the stretcher party reached a car park, the civilian ambulance that had been called was not there. “We had to wait for the ambulance to arrive,” 1K said.
Another member of directing staff, 1M, a reservist, told the hearing: “A civilian maintained his breathing. It was helpful to have someone holding James’s head to keep his airways open. That is what the walker did.Another member of directing staff, 1M, a reservist, told the hearing: “A civilian maintained his breathing. It was helpful to have someone holding James’s head to keep his airways open. That is what the walker did.
“His breathing was raspy. However he was breathing and his airways were open. His eyes had rolled to the back of his head. We cooled him to the best of our abilities with the water we had. Then we prepared the stretcher to evacuate him down towards the car park. We were aware an ambulance was on its way. The main priority was to get the casualty off the mountain.” “His breathing was raspy. However, he was breathing and his airways were open. His eyes had rolled to the back of his head. We cooled him to the best of our abilities with the water we had. Then we prepared the stretcher to evacuate him down towards the car park. We were aware an ambulance was on its way. The main priority was to get the casualty off the mountain.”
During a series of questions to 1M, the coroner, Louise Hunt, asked for his views on whether further marches in the week leading up to the tragic test may have helped candidates to “acclimatise” to the hot conditions. During a series of questions to 1M, the coroner, Louise Hunt, asked for his views on whether further marches in the week leading up to the tragic test might have helped candidates to “acclimatise” to the hot conditions.
The coroner said to 1M: “You expressed a view in your statement that when you did the selection process, the week before the test had been spent in the hills doing marches. Do you think that’s a significant factor – that they didn’t do that – in what happened?”The coroner said to 1M: “You expressed a view in your statement that when you did the selection process, the week before the test had been spent in the hills doing marches. Do you think that’s a significant factor – that they didn’t do that – in what happened?”
Giving evidence from inside a screened-off witness box, 1M answered: “Decisions like that are made higher up.” Giving evidence from a screened-off witness box, 1M answered: “Decisions like that are made higher up.”
Hunt pressed the witness as to whether he believed further preparation marches may have helped the reservist candidates. Soldier 1M then responded: “It may have.” Hunt pressed the witness as to whether he believed further preparation marches might have helped the reservist candidates. Soldier 1M then responded: “It may have.”
Three army reservists – L/Cpl Craig Roberts, 24, L/Cpl Edward Maher and Dunsby, both 31 – died after suffering hyperthermia as temperatures reached 27C (80.6F) during the test in July 2013. At least seven more reservists suffered heat injuries.Three army reservists – L/Cpl Craig Roberts, 24, L/Cpl Edward Maher and Dunsby, both 31 – died after suffering hyperthermia as temperatures reached 27C (80.6F) during the test in July 2013. At least seven more reservists suffered heat injuries.
The men’s inquest has heard claims that the march was not halted 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 inquest continues.The men’s inquest has heard claims that the march was not halted 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 inquest continues.