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| Army recruit dies while training at Surrey base | Army recruit dies while training at Surrey base |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A recruit who has died while undergoing initial army training has been named as Megan Park, 21, from Lancashire. | A recruit who has died while undergoing initial army training has been named as Megan Park, 21, from Lancashire. |
| The army said she had died during initial training at the army barracks in Pirbright, Surrey. | The army said she had died during initial training at the army barracks in Pirbright, Surrey. |
| An army spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that a recruit has died while undergoing initial training at the army training centre Pirbright. | An army 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 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,” the spokeswoman said. | “We offer our condolences to the family and ask that you respect their privacy while they come to terms with their sudden loss,” the spokeswoman said. |
| In a statement, her family said: “It is with deepest regret that Megan’s family must announce she has sadly passed on, doing the thing she loved. | In a statement, her family said: “It is with deepest regret that Megan’s family must announce she has sadly passed on, doing the thing she loved. |
| “Ever since Megan was at school, she always wanted to be in the armed forces. Everybody who knew Megan was aware of this. She was so excited about going. It was the start of her dream job. Megan is going to be missed by so many people, friends and colleagues. | “Ever since Megan was at school, she always wanted to be in the armed forces. Everybody who knew Megan was aware of this. She was so excited about going. It was the start of her dream job. Megan is going to be missed by so many people, friends and colleagues. |
| “Although she will be deeply missed, her presence will always be alive. Megan will always go on in people’s memories for her lively sense of humour and her fun sarcasm and quirky personality. | “Although she will be deeply missed, her presence will always be alive. Megan will always go on in people’s memories for her lively sense of humour and her fun sarcasm and quirky personality. |
| “The family are very grateful for all the good wishes and thoughts and just ask that people respect our privacy at this time.” | “The family are very grateful for all the good wishes and thoughts and just ask that people respect our privacy at this time.” |
| It is thought that she had recently begun the Common Military Syllabus at Pirbright, where recruits to the Army Air Corps, Royal Engineers and the Royal Armoured Corps, among other units, receive their basic training. | |
| The 14-week course includes parade-ground drills, weapons training that includes live firing, field exercises, map reading, first aid and physical development, as well as general instruction to prepare recruits for military life. | The 14-week course includes parade-ground drills, weapons training that includes live firing, field exercises, map reading, first aid and physical development, as well as general instruction to prepare recruits for military life. |
| Recruits who successfully complete the course go on to section-specific training, where they learn the skills needed for their chosen army specialism. | Recruits who successfully complete the course go on to section-specific training, where they learn the skills needed for their chosen army specialism. |
| An army spokeswoman denied reports that the recruit had died after a gruelling two-day exercise, saying it was “something quite minor”. | 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. |
| Ptes Cheryl James, Sean Benton, James Collinson and Geoff Gray all sustained gunshot wounds. | Ptes Cheryl James, Sean Benton, James Collinson and Geoff Gray all sustained gunshot wounds. |
| Families claimed at the time that their children had been “bullied to death”, although an 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| L/Cpl Craig Roberts, L/Cpl Edward Maher and Cpl James Dunsby collapsed in the heat during a 16-mile training course in the Brecon Beacons, used by the SAS for decades. | L/Cpl Craig Roberts, L/Cpl Edward Maher and Cpl James Dunsby collapsed in the heat during a 16-mile training course in the Brecon Beacons, used by the SAS for decades. |
| The coroner, Louise Hunt, told the inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, that with the correct basic treatment the men would have survived. | The coroner, Louise Hunt, told the inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, that with the correct 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 in combat operations. | 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 in 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. | 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 director general of the army recruiting and training division, during a case against the army brought by Child Soldiers International. | 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 director general of the army recruiting and training division, during a case against the army brought by Child Soldiers International. |