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Army recruit dies while training at Surrey base Army recruit dies while training at Surrey base
(about 1 hour later)
A female recruit has died while undergoing initial army training. A female recruit has died while undergoing initial army training in Surrey.
The incident occurred at the army training centre in Pirbright, Surrey. An army spokeswoman confirmed that the victim was female but refused to discuss her age. The incident occurred at the army training centre in Pirbright. An army spokeswoman confirmed that the victim was female but refused to discuss her age.
The spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that a recruit has died while undergoing initial training at the army training centre Pirbright. The incident is being investigated and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.The spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that a recruit has died while undergoing initial training at the army training centre Pirbright. The incident is being investigated and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
“We offer our condolences to the family and ask that you respect their privacy while they come to terms with their sudden loss.”“We offer our condolences to the family and ask that you respect their privacy while they come to terms with their sudden loss.”
It is thought the victim had recently begun the common military syllabus at Pirbright, where recruits to the Army Air Corps, the Royal Engineers and the Armoured Corps, among other units, receive their basic training.It is thought the victim had recently begun the common military syllabus at Pirbright, where recruits to the Army Air Corps, the Royal Engineers and the Armoured Corps, among other units, receive their basic training.
The 14-week course includes parade ground drills, weapons training including live firing, field exercises, map reading, first aid and physical development, as well as general education to prepare recruits for military life.
Recruits who successfully complete the course go on to section-specific training, where they learn the skills they will need for their chosen army trade.
An army spokeswoman denied reports that the recruit had died after a gruelling two-day exercise, saying it was “something quite minor”.
Pirbright is only four miles from Deepcut, where four soldiers died between 1995 and 2002 amid claims of bullying and abuse.Pirbright is only four miles from Deepcut, where four soldiers died between 1995 and 2002 amid claims of bullying and abuse.
Privates Cheryl James, Sean Benton, James Collinson and Geoff Gray all sustained gunshot wounds.Privates Cheryl James, Sean Benton, James Collinson and Geoff Gray all sustained gunshot wounds.
Families at the time claimed their children had been “bullied to death”, although a subsequent investigation found no evidence of this. Families claimed at the time that their children had been “bullied to death”, although an investigation found no evidence of this.
Fresh questions were raised about recruit deaths in 2008, when 29-year-old Anthony Hernandez was found hanged in his barracks at Pirbright, just five days after starting his basic training.Fresh questions were raised about recruit deaths in 2008, when 29-year-old Anthony Hernandez was found hanged in his barracks at Pirbright, just five days after starting his basic training.
Pirbright accepts recruits from the age of 17 and the army takes recruits from 16. Since 2003, the military has undertaken not to deploy personnel under 18 on combat operations. In July 2015, an inquest into the death of three SAS candidates heard there was a “catalogue of very serious mistakes” made by many people involved in the planning and execution of a test march in which they died.
However, according to Child Soldiers International, at least 22 have been sent to war zones by mistake. The UK is one of about 25 countries worldwide that still recruits under-18s. L/Cpl Craig Roberts, L/Cpl Edward Maher and Cpl James Dunsby collapsed in the heat during a 16-mile course in the Brecon Beacons, used by the SAS for decades.
Coroner Louise Hunt told the inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, that with the right basic treatment the men would have survived.
Pirbright accepts recruits from the age of 17 and the army takes recruits from 16. The base’s pre-arrival information encourages the parents and guardians of recruits to drop off their children. Since 2003, the military has undertaken not to deploy personnel under 18 on combat operations.
However, according to Child Soldiers International, at least 22 have been sent to war zones by mistake. The UK is one of about 25 countries worldwide that still recruits under-18s. Others include Chad, Sudan, Uganda and Iraq.
So-called “junior soldiers” make up about 19% of total British army recruits and about 21% of recruits to the infantry, according to a statement made in July by Maj Gen CL Tickell, the directorgeneral of the army recruiting and training division, during a case against the army brought by Child Soldiers International.