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Inquest to rule on deaths of SAS reservists during mountain test march Inquest to rule on deaths of SAS reservists during mountain test march
(34 minutes later)
An inquest into three SAS candidates who died during a test march in the Brecon Beacons is expected to be highly critical of the elite British army unit when it concludes on Tuesday.An inquest into three SAS candidates who died during a test march in the Brecon Beacons is expected to be highly critical of the elite British army unit when it concludes on Tuesday.
Related: How three army reservists died on an SAS march - visual guide
Lance Corporals Craig Roberts, Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby collapsed in the heat during the 16-mile course used by the SAS for decades.Lance Corporals Craig Roberts, Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby collapsed in the heat during the 16-mile course used by the SAS for decades.
The inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, has heard of apparent failings in the way the march was planned and executed and flaws in the rescue operation once the men fell ill.The inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, has heard of apparent failings in the way the march was planned and executed and flaws in the rescue operation once the men fell ill.
It emerged that there were long delays before those in charge of the march spotted that the men were motionless, even though they were carrying tracking devices that should have picked up that they had stopped.It emerged that there were long delays before those in charge of the march spotted that the men were motionless, even though they were carrying tracking devices that should have picked up that they had stopped.
An expert told the inquest that the march should have been halted before the three men collapsed after other candidates suffered heat illness. Several of those involved in overseeing the exercise said they had not read Ministry of Defence guidelines on dealing with heat illness.An expert told the inquest that the march should have been halted before the three men collapsed after other candidates suffered heat illness. Several of those involved in overseeing the exercise said they had not read Ministry of Defence guidelines on dealing with heat illness.
Roberts, 24, Maher and Dunsby, both 31, collapsed during the exercise on 13 July 2013. All were reservists – part-time soldiers – who wanted to try out for the SAS reserve, which works alongside regular troops in some of the most dangerous war zones in the world.Roberts, 24, Maher and Dunsby, both 31, collapsed during the exercise on 13 July 2013. All were reservists – part-time soldiers – who wanted to try out for the SAS reserve, which works alongside regular troops in some of the most dangerous war zones in the world.
They were among 78 men taking part in the march on and around Pen y Fan, the largest mountain in southern Britain, and were carrying rucksacks weighing at least 49lbs (22kg). Their target was to complete the march within eight hours and 48 minutes, but by early afternoon, as temperatures soared towards 30C, the trio collapsed.They were among 78 men taking part in the march on and around Pen y Fan, the largest mountain in southern Britain, and were carrying rucksacks weighing at least 49lbs (22kg). Their target was to complete the march within eight hours and 48 minutes, but by early afternoon, as temperatures soared towards 30C, the trio collapsed.
Despite the tracker system, Maher was not found for more than two hours and was already dead when he was eventually discovered. Roberts was found by another candidate in a notorious spot nicknamed “VW” (Voluntary Withdrawal) Valley, so called because so many give up there.Despite the tracker system, Maher was not found for more than two hours and was already dead when he was eventually discovered. Roberts was found by another candidate in a notorious spot nicknamed “VW” (Voluntary Withdrawal) Valley, so called because so many give up there.
These 90 minutes demonstrate the army failed in protecting and rescuing our sonThese 90 minutes demonstrate the army failed in protecting and rescuing our son
Dunsby’s father, David, has suggested his son lay alone and in distress for an hour and a half before help reached him. “These 90 minutes demonstrate the army failed in protecting and rescuing our son,” he told the inquest.Dunsby’s father, David, has suggested his son lay alone and in distress for an hour and a half before help reached him. “These 90 minutes demonstrate the army failed in protecting and rescuing our son,” he told the inquest.
The soldier in charge of responding to emergencies on the march said he could not remember whether he had checked that a military rescue helicopter was available that day. He accepted it would have helped if the civilian emergency services had been forewarned of the test and also conceded he did not take into account the poor mobile phone signal in the Brecon Beacons should it have become necessary to dial 999.The soldier in charge of responding to emergencies on the march said he could not remember whether he had checked that a military rescue helicopter was available that day. He accepted it would have helped if the civilian emergency services had been forewarned of the test and also conceded he did not take into account the poor mobile phone signal in the Brecon Beacons should it have become necessary to dial 999.
The director of UK Special Forces at the time of the tragedy, who gave evidence under the codename EE, insisted the test was “well-proven and well-tried”.The director of UK Special Forces at the time of the tragedy, who gave evidence under the codename EE, insisted the test was “well-proven and well-tried”.
He said emphasis was placed on candidates taking responsibility for their own actions. Those who make it into the SAS reserve or SAS have to operate with very little supervision or external help.He said emphasis was placed on candidates taking responsibility for their own actions. Those who make it into the SAS reserve or SAS have to operate with very little supervision or external help.
Given the determination of the three, they ended up pushing themselves beyond their ability to endureGiven the determination of the three, they ended up pushing themselves beyond their ability to endure
EE suggested that the men who died made wrong choices because they were so intent on passing. “Given the determination and the stamina of the three individuals, they ended up pushing themselves beyond their ability to endure,” he said.EE suggested that the men who died made wrong choices because they were so intent on passing. “Given the determination and the stamina of the three individuals, they ended up pushing themselves beyond their ability to endure,” he said.
Craig Roberts’s mother, Margaret, told the inquest she asked an SAS commanding officer why the march could not have been called off because of the heat. She said he replied: “There would be too much paperwork to postpone it.”Craig Roberts’s mother, Margaret, told the inquest she asked an SAS commanding officer why the march could not have been called off because of the heat. She said he replied: “There would be too much paperwork to postpone it.”
During the inquest, the officer said he could not remember making the remark.During the inquest, the officer said he could not remember making the remark.
The coroner’s conclusions may not be the end of the saga. The police and health and safety officials could still bring criminal charges over the men’s deaths.The coroner’s conclusions may not be the end of the saga. The police and health and safety officials could still bring criminal charges over the men’s deaths.
Speaking to ITV News on Monday evening, Dunsby’s father said: “The system failed and that’s what killed my son. There should be somebody there to help them and we know on the day there wasn’t. That system let me down as a father and let my son down.Speaking to ITV News on Monday evening, Dunsby’s father said: “The system failed and that’s what killed my son. There should be somebody there to help them and we know on the day there wasn’t. That system let me down as a father and let my son down.
“I would just wish somebody at a certain level would just come to me and say ... we are making changes, we understand things went wrong on the day.“I would just wish somebody at a certain level would just come to me and say ... we are making changes, we understand things went wrong on the day.
“As long as they make changes so it won’t happen, that’s all we want. Nothing can bring James back but we need to make sure that there are things in place that will protect all the other soldiers who will be doing the same thing. To me I don’t blame any particular person, I blame the system and the system failed.”“As long as they make changes so it won’t happen, that’s all we want. Nothing can bring James back but we need to make sure that there are things in place that will protect all the other soldiers who will be doing the same thing. To me I don’t blame any particular person, I blame the system and the system failed.”
Dunsby claimed the army were fortunate that more soldiers had not died: “The army medical staff ... couldn’t cope, it was just too big. They were lucky it wasn’t more than just the three. It could’ve been six or seven.”Dunsby claimed the army were fortunate that more soldiers had not died: “The army medical staff ... couldn’t cope, it was just too big. They were lucky it wasn’t more than just the three. It could’ve been six or seven.”