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| Criticism of troops 'making do' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| British Army troops at a base where a soldier was mortally wounded "made do" with "unacceptable" protection, a coronor told an inquest. | |
| 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. |
| Protective walls were too low, soldiers slept under netting and there was no doctor at the base, the inquest heard. | |
| Coroner David Masters recorded a verdict that he was unlawfully killed. | Coroner David Masters recorded a verdict that he was unlawfully killed. |
| Mr Masters said he found the protection for troops at the remote base in Helmand Province to be unacceptable. | |
| And when he asked Capt Hicks' commanding officer, Lt Col Stuart Carver, if he too found it unacceptable, Col Carver replied "I do". | |
| Captain Hicks was awarded a posthumous Military Cross for bravery | Captain Hicks was awarded a posthumous Military Cross for bravery |
| 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." | 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." | 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." |
| However, after hearing that protection had since been improved and that a doctor was now on site, he said he did not need to make recommendations to the government. | |
| Capt Hicks, from Wokingham in Berkshire, had been serving with the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment in Afghanistan since March 2007. | 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 when he was hurt following a "massive explosion". | Capt Hicks had climbed to the top of an observation platform when he was hurt following a "massive explosion". |
| He has left a hole in the battalion that will never be filled Captain Ollie Ormiston | |
| The coroner described how Capt Hicks drifted in and out of consciousness and pleaded with medics to allow him to rejoin the battle. | |
| Mr Masters added: "He was seen to remove his mask and shout 'get me back up there'." | |
| Capt Hicks was awarded a posthumous Military Cross. | 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 because it was full to its capacity of just one person. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ruptured artery | |
| Capt Hicks had suffered a ruptured artery in his chest which would have required specialist surgery within 30 minutes, the inquest heard. The cause of death was recorded as fragmentation wounds to the chest. | |
| Before the inquest, his father Alun Hicks had criticised the lack of a doctor at the base. | Before the inquest, his father Alun Hicks had criticised the lack of a doctor at the base. |
| And during the hearing Mr Masters said he would "want to know more" about its medical provision. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| "If they had more airpower, our soldiers would be safer and chances of success would be enhanced." | "If they had more airpower, our soldiers would be safer and chances of success would be enhanced." |
| Extra protection | |
| Captain Ollie Ormiston paid tribute to his former comrade. | Captain Ollie Ormiston paid tribute to his former comrade. |
| 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 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." |
| A Ministry of Defence statement said the coroner's comments would be noted and lessons would be learned. | |
| It read: "Force protection measures are based upon the latest available information about the threat. | |
| "Since this incident, extra force protection measures have been put in place at the base." |