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Inquest into British soldiers killed in Afghanistan Inquest into British soldiers killed in Afghanistan
(about 3 hours later)
An inquest is set to begin into the deaths of six British soldiers killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan. An inquest has begun into the deaths of six British soldiers killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan.
The men had been on patrol in a Warrior armoured vehicle when it was caught in an explosion in Kandahar province in March last year.The men had been on patrol in a Warrior armoured vehicle when it was caught in an explosion in Kandahar province in March last year.
The attack, which was claimed by the Taliban, remains the biggest single loss of life for UK forces in Afghanistan since 2001.The attack, which was claimed by the Taliban, remains the biggest single loss of life for UK forces in Afghanistan since 2001.
The inquest begins on Wednesday at Oxford Coroner's Court. The inquest is being heard at Oxford Coroner's Court.
Sgt Nigel Coupe, 33, of 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed alongside Cpl Jake Hartley, 20, Pte Anthony Frampton, 20, Pte Christopher Kershaw, 19, Pte Daniel Wade, 20, and Pte Daniel Wilford, 21, all of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.Sgt Nigel Coupe, 33, of 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed alongside Cpl Jake Hartley, 20, Pte Anthony Frampton, 20, Pte Christopher Kershaw, 19, Pte Daniel Wade, 20, and Pte Daniel Wilford, 21, all of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.
Fierce blazeFierce blaze
The six soldiers, four of them from West Yorkshire, died in an explosion so powerful it turned their vehicle upside down and blew off its gun turret.The six soldiers, four of them from West Yorkshire, died in an explosion so powerful it turned their vehicle upside down and blew off its gun turret.
Ammunition on board the Warrior ignited, causing a fierce fire that burned for many hours and severely hampered rescuers. Ammunition on board the Warrior ignited, causing a fierce fire that burned for hours and hampered rescuers.
The tragedy was the biggest single loss of life since 14 people were killed in an RAF Nimrod crash in September 2006.The tragedy was the biggest single loss of life since 14 people were killed in an RAF Nimrod crash in September 2006.
The inquest, which is expected to last two days, comes after the Ministry of Defence announced the death of the 445th UK service member - expected to be named on Wednesday - to have lost their life since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001. The inquest heard evidence from pathologists which said the men were likely to have been killed or rendered unconsciously immediately by the blast.
The "fantastic" soldier, from 14 Signals Regiment (Electronic Warfare), attached to the Task Force Helmand Brigade Reconnaissance Force, was killed in enemy fire on Tuesday while on patrol in Helmand Province, the MoD said. The Warrior was at the front of a two-vehicle patrol on the evening of 6 March 2012, the inquest heard.
Detonating ammunition
Private Luke Stones, the gunner in the rear vehicle, said he heard a loud explosion and felt a blast four to five minutes after the patrol left the Lashkar Gah base.
Around a minute later he emerged from his gun turret and was confronted by a fireball, around 40 to 45 metres ahead of him.
He said he heard around 20 rounds of ammunition detonating inside the burning Warrior. Pte Stones's comrades attempted to tackle the blaze with small fire extinguishers.
They managed to extinguish the burning gun turret, which had been blown off the Warrior.
The inquest, which is expected to last two days, is due to hear further evidence in person from some of the other soldiers on the same patrol.