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Afghan defences 'unacceptable' Afghan defences 'unacceptable'
(29 minutes later)
A British Army colonel has admitted shortcomings in the protection for his troops at an Afghan base where a soldier was mortally wounded. A senior British Army officer has admitted shortcomings in the protection for his troops at an Afghan base where a soldier was mortally wounded.
Capt David Hicks, 26, from Berkshire, died after sustaining shrapnel wounds at the remote Inkerman base in Afghanistan on 11 August last year.Capt David Hicks, 26, from Berkshire, died after sustaining shrapnel wounds at the remote Inkerman base in Afghanistan on 11 August last year.
His commanding officer, Col Stuart Carver, told an inquest that protection for his troops was "unacceptable". His commanding officer, Lt Col Stuart Carver, agreed at an inquest that protection was "unacceptable".
Coroner David Masters recorded a verdict that he was unlawfully killed.Coroner David Masters recorded a verdict that he was unlawfully killed.
Capt Hicks, from Wokingham in Berkshire, had been serving with the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in Afghanistan since March 2007. Protective walls surrounding the Inkerman base were too low, there was no doctor on site, and some soldiers slept under makeshift netting, the inquest heard.
Mr Masters said he found the protection for troops unacceptable and asked Col Carver whether he too found it unacceptable.
Col Carver replied: "I do".
He continued: "In an ideal world they wouldn't have to make do. That's part of the nature of the job. We're always making do."
But Mr Masters told the inquest at Trowbridge Town Hall: "I don't think making do is an acceptable proposition for our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan - I'm very anxious about that."
Comrades injuredComrades injured
Capt Hicks, from Wokingham in Berkshire, had been serving with the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in Afghanistan since March 2007.
He was commanding C "Essex" Company when the base came under a rocket attack which also left five other soldiers injured.He was commanding C "Essex" Company when the base came under a rocket attack which also left five other soldiers injured.
Capt Hicks had climbed to the top of an observation platform and located at least five of enemy firing positions, with the rate of fire increasing, the inquest heard. Capt Hicks had climbed to the top of an observation platform when he was hurt following a "massive explosion".
There was a "massive explosion" near the platform and Capt Hicks was found lying injured on his back but still breathing, Mr Masters said. The coroner described how Capt Hicks drifted in and out of consciousness while he was treated by medics.
Capt Hicks was then taken to the regimental aid area where, the coroner said: "He was seen to remove his mask and shout 'get me back up there', drifting in and out of consciousness." Mr Masters added: "He was seen to remove his mask and shout 'get me back up there.'"
He was then taken to a helicopter landing site where he lost consciousness and the medical team tried to resuscitate him on board the aircraft, Mr Masters said. Capt Hicks was awarded a posthumous Military Cross.
The inquest heard that medics had to treat Capt Hicks on the floor outside the medical room as it was full to its capacity of just one person.
HelicopterHelicopter
Mr Masters said he found the protection for troops unacceptable and asked Col Stuart Carver whether he too found it unacceptable. He lost consciousness and the medical team tried to resuscitate him on board a helicopter as he was transferred to a medical facility, Mr Masters said.
The colonel replied: "I do". The inquest heard Capt Hicks had suffered a ruptured artery in his chest which would have required specialist surgery within 30 minutes. The cause of death was recorded as fragmentation wounds to the chest.
The coroner said he would look into claims that there was no qualified medical officer at the base, after Capt Hick's father complained. Before the inquest, his father Alun Hicks had criticised the lack of a doctor at the base.
Mr Masters told the hearing at Trowbridge Town Hall: "I will want to know more about the availability of medical staff at the base. I will want to know more about its protection. And during the hearing Mr Masters said he would "want to know more" about medical provision on the base.
"I will want to know more about the implication of the rules of engagement." Afterwards, Mr Hicks said: "We need to make sure our troops are sufficient on the ground in the first place, secondly are adequately supplied and thirdly that major gaps in resources are filled.
Capt Hicks was flown to the Camp Bastion medical facility but later died. He was awarded a posthumous Military Cross "If they had more airpower, our soldiers would be safer and chances of success would be enhanced."
The inquest heard that - while there was no doctor on the site - there were two medics, at least one of them trained in "battlefield trauma - advanced life support". Captain Ollie Ormiston paid tribute to his former comrade.
The inquest heard Capt Hicks had suffered a ruptured artery in his chest which would have required specialist surgery within 30 minutes. He said: "Dave Hicks was a good man, a good friend, a brave and courageous officer. He has left a hole in the Battalion that will never be filled."
He was posthumously awarded a Military Cross for his bravery. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We have noted the Coroner's comments and, with the Royal Military Police and Ministry of Defence's own investigations, will learn lessons from this tragic incident."
The coroner added that the cause of death was fragmentation wounds to the chest.
The inquest continues.