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| SAS test march officer didn't know of 'hottest day' predictions, inquest told | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An army officer in charge of an SAS test march on which three reservists collapsed and died has admitted he was unaware of media reports predicting it would coincide with the hottest day of the year. | An army officer in charge of an SAS test march on which three reservists collapsed and died has admitted he was unaware of media reports predicting it would coincide with the hottest day of the year. |
| Giving evidence to an inquest into the deaths of the three men in July 2013, the training officer also said he was “happy” with a generic risk assessment prepared for the 16-mile (26km) march in south Wales. | Giving evidence to an inquest into the deaths of the three men in July 2013, the training officer also said he was “happy” with a generic risk assessment prepared for the 16-mile (26km) march in south Wales. |
| The officer, referred to as 1A to protect his identity, began his evidence by offering his condolences to the families of Corporal James Dunsby and Lance Corporals Craig Roberts and Edward Maher. | The officer, referred to as 1A to protect his identity, began his evidence by offering his condolences to the families of Corporal James Dunsby and Lance Corporals Craig Roberts and Edward Maher. |
| The inquest has heard that both lance corporals were pronounced dead on the Brecon Beacons, having succumbed to heat illness, while Dunsby died later in Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth hospital. | The inquest has heard that both lance corporals were pronounced dead on the Brecon Beacons, having succumbed to heat illness, while Dunsby died later in Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth hospital. |
| Responding to a series of questions from Birmingham coroner Louise Hunt, 1A said he had last undertaken heat illness training six years before the march. | Responding to a series of questions from Birmingham coroner Louise Hunt, 1A said he had last undertaken heat illness training six years before the march. |
| The soldier, who undertook the gruelling SAS selection process in 1997, told the inquest: “Because we had been operating down there in similar conditions for the previous two weeks I am content that my risk assessment was meeting requirement. | The soldier, who undertook the gruelling SAS selection process in 1997, told the inquest: “Because we had been operating down there in similar conditions for the previous two weeks I am content that my risk assessment was meeting requirement. |
| “I was happy that the risk assessment had met the requirement of the previous two [special forces selection] courses that I had run and also courses before that.” | “I was happy that the risk assessment had met the requirement of the previous two [special forces selection] courses that I had run and also courses before that.” |
| Confirming that the risk assessment was the same as that prepared for the “lead regular unit”, 1A said march distances and weights to be carried had not changed since 1997. | Confirming that the risk assessment was the same as that prepared for the “lead regular unit”, 1A said march distances and weights to be carried had not changed since 1997. |
| “They [the regular SAS unit] are providing the direction, the syllabus and the standards,” 1A said. | “They [the regular SAS unit] are providing the direction, the syllabus and the standards,” 1A said. |
| “Because of the size of who they are, everything we do is linked to them to ensure that everything we are delivering is in line with their policy.” | “Because of the size of who they are, everything we do is linked to them to ensure that everything we are delivering is in line with their policy.” |
| During lengthy questioning by Hunt, 1A was asked: “Were you aware that the media was reporting that it was going to be the hottest day of the year?” | During lengthy questioning by Hunt, 1A was asked: “Were you aware that the media was reporting that it was going to be the hottest day of the year?” |
| 1A replied: “No, I wasn’t. I certainly wasn’t tracking that it was predicted.” | 1A replied: “No, I wasn’t. I certainly wasn’t tracking that it was predicted.” |
| Hunt then read out a series of temperatures recorded on 13 July – when the march took place – and the previous nine days. | Hunt then read out a series of temperatures recorded on 13 July – when the march took place – and the previous nine days. |
| Met Office readings taken in the village of Libanus showed temperatures rising from 19C (66.2F) on 4 July to a peak of 28.1C (82.6F) on 13 July. | Met Office readings taken in the village of Libanus showed temperatures rising from 19C (66.2F) on 4 July to a peak of 28.1C (82.6F) on 13 July. |
| The coroner then asked 1A: “In relation to the temperature, did you have any discussions with the lead regular unit about the weather?” | The coroner then asked 1A: “In relation to the temperature, did you have any discussions with the lead regular unit about the weather?” |
| 1A answered: “Not that I can recall.” | 1A answered: “Not that I can recall.” |
| Fielding questions about the hot conditions, the chain of command on 13 July, and his knowledge of heat illness, 1A added: “There was no reason to discuss the weather as far as we were concerned. | Fielding questions about the hot conditions, the chain of command on 13 July, and his knowledge of heat illness, 1A added: “There was no reason to discuss the weather as far as we were concerned. |
| “I was delivering an activity that was directed to me. So I had a responsibility, absolutely, but I don’t think I owned the risk. | “I was delivering an activity that was directed to me. So I had a responsibility, absolutely, but I don’t think I owned the risk. |
| “I would have had some training [on heat illness] on pre-deployment training. I have been to both Iraq and Afghanistan and various other countries.” | “I would have had some training [on heat illness] on pre-deployment training. I have been to both Iraq and Afghanistan and various other countries.” |
| But the training officer said he had received no formal training on writing risk assessments, and was “still not clear” on the definition of a heat illness. | But the training officer said he had received no formal training on writing risk assessments, and was “still not clear” on the definition of a heat illness. |