This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24546668

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Inquest into British soldiers killed in Afghanistan Afghanistan inquest: Soldiers' comrades give evidence
(about 1 hour later)
Comrades of six UK soldiers who died in an Afghan bomb blast in 2012 have begun giving evidence at an inquest.Comrades of six UK soldiers who died in an Afghan bomb blast in 2012 have begun giving evidence at an inquest.
The six men were on patrol in a Warrior armoured vehicle when it was caught in an explosion 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.
Private Luke Stones, who was following the Warrior, told the inquest of other soldiers' attempts to save the men. Pte Luke Stones, who was following the Warrior, told the inquest of other soldiers' attempts to save the men.
The attack, claimed by the Taliban, was the biggest single loss of life in an enemy attack for UK Afghanistan forces since 2001.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 men 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.
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 unconscious immediately by the blast.
Ammunition on board the Warrior ignited, causing a fierce fire that burned for hours and hampered rescuers.
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 ammunition Last minute swap
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. In a written statement Pte Stones, the gunner in the rear vehicle, revealed that 19-year-old Pte Kershaw - who was driving the Warrior - had volunteered to take the place of another soldier on the patrol at the last minute.
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: "Pte Butler would have been the driver of K12 [the call sign of the vehicle] but he was returning from the shower and as a result Pte Kershaw offered to take his place."
Pte Stones said he heard a "large explosion" just five minutes after the patrol left the Lashkar Gah base.
"Around 20m to my front was a large fireball which had flames reaching around it," he said. "I stood staring at the fireball not really understanding what I was looking at."
'Cooking off'
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.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.
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. A statement from Pte Aiden Walker said: "I could hear ammunition 'cooking off', that's detonating due to the heat of the fire.
"I believe that no-one in the Warrior was alive and could have survived the explosion."
His view was shared by Warrant Officer Second Class Eric Whitehouse, who described hearing a series of explosions inside the Warrior as he tried in vain to extinguish the blaze.
"It was apparent that anyone involved in the explosion could not have survived the blast," he said.
The inquest, which is expected to last two days, comes after the Ministry of Defence announced the death of the 445th UK service member to have lost their life since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001.