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Inquest into British soldiers killed in Afghanistan Inquest into British soldiers killed in Afghanistan
(about 1 hour later)
An inquest has begun into the deaths of six British soldiers killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan. Comrades of six UK soldiers who died in an Afghan bomb blast in 2012 have begun giving evidence at an inquest.
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 six men were on patrol in a Warrior armoured vehicle when it was caught in an explosion 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. Private Luke Stones, who was following the Warrior, told the inquest of other soldiers' attempts to save the men.
The inquest is being heard at Oxford Coroner's Court. The attack, claimed by the Taliban, was the biggest single loss of life in an enemy attack for UK Afghanistan forces since 2001.
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 men 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 hours and 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 inquest heard evidence from pathologists which said the men were likely to have been killed or rendered unconscious immediately by the blast.
The inquest heard evidence from pathologists which said the men were likely to have been killed or rendered unconsciously immediately by the blast.
The Warrior was at the front of a two-vehicle patrol on the evening of 6 March 2012, the inquest heard.The Warrior was at the front of a two-vehicle patrol on the evening of 6 March 2012, the inquest heard.
Detonating ammunitionDetonating 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. Private Stones, the gunner in the rear vehicle, said he heard a loud explosion and felt a blast 4-5 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.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. He said he heard around 20 rounds of ammunition detonating inside the burning Warrior, and his 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.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.