This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8545227.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Soldier distress at bomb inquest Soldiers' vehicle 'not adequate'
(10 minutes later)
A special forces soldier has broken down while giving evidence at the inquest of four UK soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan in 2008. The sole survivor of a 2008 blast in Afghanistan has told an inquest he believed the vehicle he was travelling in was "not adequate for the job".
He was the sole survivor of a blast which killed Cpl Sarah Bryant and three SAS reservists - Cpl Sean Reeve, L/Cpl Richard Larkin and Pte Paul Stout. The special forces soldier broke down while giving evidence at the inquest of four UK soldiers who were killed, at Wiltshire Coroner's Court.
They were Cpl Sarah Bryant and three SAS reservists - Cpl Sean Reeve, L/Cpl Richard Larkin and Pte Paul Stout.
Cpl Bryant is the only British female soldier to have died in Afghanistan.Cpl Bryant is the only British female soldier to have died in Afghanistan.
After the soldier told of a "huge explosion," the coroner read his statement as he was unable to continue. Known as Soldier E, the witness said he was told during pre-deployment training he would be travelling in Snatch Land Rovers.
Known as Soldier E, the witness said the soldiers were moving along their route after doing IED checks. "There was a lot of worry that these weren't the right vehicle, in our opinion, for the job in hand," he said.
He said: "Having used the Snatch in our pre-deployment training, our concerns were heightened, especially when off-road. The mobility and flexibility of the vehicle came into question."
He added: "It could go off-road, but as a platform to maintain operations, I believe it was not adequate for the job."
'Huge explosion'
The witness said the soldiers were moving along their route after doing improvised explosive device (IED) checks when the Land Rover's back wheel hit an IED.
After the soldier told of a "huge explosion," the coroner read the rest of his statement as he was unable to continue.
"The next thing I can recall is our vehicle was being catapulted into the air," he said."The next thing I can recall is our vehicle was being catapulted into the air," he said.
"I remember seeing the ground, the sky, then the ground, the sky, and then the vehicle hitting the ground.""I remember seeing the ground, the sky, then the ground, the sky, and then the vehicle hitting the ground."
He said he was conscious throughout.
Vulnerable vehicle
On Monday, Coroner David Masters said the six-day inquest would look at the soldiers' equipment, training and mine detection drills.On Monday, Coroner David Masters said the six-day inquest would look at the soldiers' equipment, training and mine detection drills.
The four were in a Snatch Land Rover, a light vehicle in which at least 37 UK soldiers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.The four were in a Snatch Land Rover, a light vehicle in which at least 37 UK soldiers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The lightly armoured vehicles' vulnerability to roadside bombs and other explosives has led some soldiers to call them the "mobile coffin".The lightly armoured vehicles' vulnerability to roadside bombs and other explosives has led some soldiers to call them the "mobile coffin".
The back wheels of their Land Rover hit a 50kg to 100kg (110lb-220lb) pressure-plated improvised explosive device (IED), or roadside bomb, as they crossed a ditch. Criticism
The back wheels of their Land Rover hit a 50kg to 100kg (110lb-220lb) pressure-plated IED, or roadside bomb, as they crossed a ditch.
The deaths, in particular that of Cpl Bryant - a young, recently married member of the Intelligence Corps - attracted a lot of media attention at the time.The deaths, in particular that of Cpl Bryant - a young, recently married member of the Intelligence Corps - attracted a lot of media attention at the time.
The incident also attracted a lot of criticism, with one SAS major resigning his commission in protest.The incident also attracted a lot of criticism, with one SAS major resigning his commission in protest.
Concerns about the vehicle were raised as long ago as 2003.Concerns about the vehicle were raised as long ago as 2003.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has upgraded the Snatch with improvements to its armour and better electronic counter-measures to detect makeshift roadside bombs. But that work has yet to be completed.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has upgraded the Snatch with improvements to its armour and better electronic counter-measures to detect makeshift roadside bombs. But that work has yet to be completed.
In a statement, the MoD said its thoughts were with the families of Cpl Bryant, L/Cpl Reeve, L/Cpl Larkin and Pte Stout but it would not comment on ongoing inquest proceedings.In a statement, the MoD said its thoughts were with the families of Cpl Bryant, L/Cpl Reeve, L/Cpl Larkin and Pte Stout but it would not comment on ongoing inquest proceedings.