This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/14/sas-fatalities-treated-as-matter-of-fact

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'We get deaths on exercises' – SAS fatalities treated as matter-of-fact 'We get deaths on exercises' – SAS fatalities treated as matter-of-fact
(about 7 hours later)
When RAF helicopter winchman Andy Dixon touched down in the Brecon Beacons to help evacuate an SAS candidate who had collapsed during a march in searing heat, he was taken aback by the attitude that met him.When RAF helicopter winchman Andy Dixon touched down in the Brecon Beacons to help evacuate an SAS candidate who had collapsed during a march in searing heat, he was taken aback by the attitude that met him.
Related: SAS inquest: coroner highlights 'catalogue of very serious mistakes'Related: SAS inquest: coroner highlights 'catalogue of very serious mistakes'
Special forces soldiers told him “quite matter-of-factly” that it was too late. The man was already dead. Dixon began to offer his condolences, but the reply was brusque: “We occasionally get deaths on these exercises.” “I was shocked by his frankness,” the inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, heard.Special forces soldiers told him “quite matter-of-factly” that it was too late. The man was already dead. Dixon began to offer his condolences, but the reply was brusque: “We occasionally get deaths on these exercises.” “I was shocked by his frankness,” the inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, heard.
The SAS – whose motto is “Who Dares Wins” – has for decades been regarded as the epitome of fierce, slick professionalism. But the reputation of the service has been battered by the inquest of three men who died not on some faraway battlefield, but in the hills of south Wales.The SAS – whose motto is “Who Dares Wins” – has for decades been regarded as the epitome of fierce, slick professionalism. But the reputation of the service has been battered by the inquest of three men who died not on some faraway battlefield, but in the hills of south Wales.
The fatal march appears to have been badly organised and poorly planned and executed. Experienced soldiers were not aware of Ministry of Defence guidelines on how to counter the dangers of heat illness – and some claimed that, anyway, they did not apply to special forces. When staff belatedly spotted that things were going wrong, the rescue operation that followed came over as shambolic during the inquest hearings. The fatal march appears to have been badly organised and poorly planned and executed. Experienced soldiers were not aware of Ministry of Defence guidelines on how to counter the dangers of heat illness – and some claimed that they did not apply to special forces anyway. When staff belatedly spotted that things were going wrong, the rescue operation that followed came over as shambolic during the inquest hearings.
But it is the attitude of those charged with running the march that has left the relatives of Lance Corporals Craig Roberts and Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby deeply angry.But it is the attitude of those charged with running the march that has left the relatives of Lance Corporals Craig Roberts and Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby deeply angry.
This was about the survival of the fittest, it seems. If a few men fell by the wayside, then that was the way it was.This was about the survival of the fittest, it seems. If a few men fell by the wayside, then that was the way it was.
Related: How three army reservists died on an SAS march - visual guideRelated: How three army reservists died on an SAS march - visual guide
Roberts, 24, Maher and Dunsby, both 31, were experienced reservists – part-time soldiers – who decided to undertake the arduous challenge of becoming members of the SAS Reserve, which serves alongside regular troops in some of the world’s most hazardous spots and is often used as a stepping stone for those who want to become members of the full-time special forces.Roberts, 24, Maher and Dunsby, both 31, were experienced reservists – part-time soldiers – who decided to undertake the arduous challenge of becoming members of the SAS Reserve, which serves alongside regular troops in some of the world’s most hazardous spots and is often used as a stepping stone for those who want to become members of the full-time special forces.
The three completed six months of training ahead of the test – two weeks in the Brecon Beacons, a rite of passage SAS candidates have been put through for 40 years. The three completed six months of training before the test – two weeks in the Brecon Beacons, a rite of passage SAS candidates have been put through for 40 years.
On 13 July 2013 Roberts, Maher and Dunsby were among 78 men taking part in a 16-mile march on and around Pen y Fan, the largest mountain in southern Britain, carrying rucksacks weighing at least 49lbs (22kg). All three began before 7am, by which time the temperature was already around 19C and – unusually for this mountainous corner of Wales – it was windless. On 13 July 2013, Roberts, Maher and Dunsby were among 78 men taking part in a 16-mile march on and around Pen y Fan, the largest mountain in southern Britain, carrying rucksacks weighing at least 49lbs (22kg). All three began before 7am, by which time the temperature was already around 19C and – unusually for this mountainous corner of Wales – it was windless.
The trio were in good spirits, confident they were fit enough to complete the march within the required eight hours and 48 minutes. By early afternoon, as temperatures soared towards 30C, they began to grow weak.The trio were in good spirits, confident they were fit enough to complete the march within the required eight hours and 48 minutes. By early afternoon, as temperatures soared towards 30C, they began to grow weak.
Maher was the first to collapse. He reached the final checkpoint, CP5, before making the long march to the finish line, at around 1.25pm. He carried on for another 40 minutes, scrambling up one of the steepest slopes on the course before wandering away from the route home and collapsing.Maher was the first to collapse. He reached the final checkpoint, CP5, before making the long march to the finish line, at around 1.25pm. He carried on for another 40 minutes, scrambling up one of the steepest slopes on the course before wandering away from the route home and collapsing.
Staff were not aware that he had stopped for around two hours. Such was the delay that when a medic got to him shortly before 5pm, he had already died. He was found in a sitting position, a half-eaten chocolate bar in one hand, a water bottle in the other. Staff were not aware that he had stopped for abouttwo hours. Such was the delay that when a medic got to him shortly before 5pm, he had already died. He was found in a sitting position, a half-eaten chocolate bar in one hand, a water bottle in the other.
Roberts left CP5 at roughly the same time as Maher. He got to within about a mile of the finishing line before he collapsed at a spot nicknamed by recruits as VW Valley. The VW stands for voluntary withdrawal – this is a spot where many recruits give up because the slopes are so steep and they are exhausted by this time.Roberts left CP5 at roughly the same time as Maher. He got to within about a mile of the finishing line before he collapsed at a spot nicknamed by recruits as VW Valley. The VW stands for voluntary withdrawal – this is a spot where many recruits give up because the slopes are so steep and they are exhausted by this time.
A candidate coming up behind Roberts heard his rasping breathing and found him convulsing and vomiting. Shocked, the candidate pressed Roberts’s emergency “man-down” button at around 3.30pm and tried to resuscitate him. Civilian paramedics finally arrived at around 4.45pm and the air ambulance at 5.05pm. The man who discovered Roberts could not understand why help was delayed. “I was looking for a helicopter to arrive and wondering why it wasn’t coming,” he told the inquest. A candidate coming up behind Roberts heard his rasping breathing and found him convulsing and vomiting. Shocked, the candidate pressed Roberts’s emergency “man-down” button at about 3.30pm and tried to resuscitate him. Civilian paramedics finally arrived at around 4.45pm and the air ambulance at 5.05pm. The man who discovered Roberts could not understand why help was delayed. “I was looking for a helicopter to arrive and wondering why it wasn’t coming,” he told the inquest.
Dunsby was following a different route. Determined to finish on time, he had arrived at the peak of Pen y Fan just before 3pm. He jogged downhill towards the finishing line, but around half an hour later left the main path and collapsed, a mile or so before the end. It was around 4.35pm before staff noticed he had stopped moving and help was dispatched.Dunsby was following a different route. Determined to finish on time, he had arrived at the peak of Pen y Fan just before 3pm. He jogged downhill towards the finishing line, but around half an hour later left the main path and collapsed, a mile or so before the end. It was around 4.35pm before staff noticed he had stopped moving and help was dispatched.
All the men carried a tracker device, a key piece of kit designed to make sure staff at the finishing line could locate the candidates at all times.All the men carried a tracker device, a key piece of kit designed to make sure staff at the finishing line could locate the candidates at all times.
The men were represented by moving dots on a laptop screen monitored from a lorry by an experienced radio operator from 18 Signal Regiment, which provides communications expertise during special forces operations.The men were represented by moving dots on a laptop screen monitored from a lorry by an experienced radio operator from 18 Signal Regiment, which provides communications expertise during special forces operations.
The signaller – codenamed 1C – insisted he was watching the screen carefully, but explained: “I can’t fixate on one student because I would lose situational awareness of everyone else.”The signaller – codenamed 1C – insisted he was watching the screen carefully, but explained: “I can’t fixate on one student because I would lose situational awareness of everyone else.”
This is not the first inquest that has pointed to problems with the tracker devices during an SAS test. Five years before in July 2008, a 25-year-old Royal Marine, Benjamin Poole, collapsed and died during a test exercise in the Brecon Beacons. The coroner at his inquest ruled that he had died shortly after 2.30pm. It was only noticed at 4.40pm that he had stopped moving and his body was not found until 5.25pm. The tracker device had not helped him. This is not the first inquest that has pointed to problems with the tracker devices during an SAS test. Five years before, in July 2008, a 25-year-old Royal Marine, Benjamin Poole, collapsed and died during a test exercise in the Brecon Beacons. The coroner at his inquest ruled that he had died shortly after 2.30pm. It was only noticed at 4.40pm that he had stopped moving and his body was not found until 5.25pm. The tracker device had not helped him.
Despite the high temperatures during the day, there was no water at two of the five checkpoints the men had to pass through and no fully trained medics at three of them.Despite the high temperatures during the day, there was no water at two of the five checkpoints the men had to pass through and no fully trained medics at three of them.
The soldier in charge of planning the response to any emergency, codenamed 1H, told the inquest he could not remember whether he had checked that a military rescue helicopter was available that day.The soldier in charge of planning the response to any emergency, codenamed 1H, told the inquest he could not remember whether he had checked that a military rescue helicopter was available that day.
At the time of the rescue, a soldier sent to help Dunsby attempted to use a vehicle only to find the clutch had gone. An army ambulance got stranded behind a locked gate before becoming bogged down after the driver tried to navigate through a farm. At the time of the rescue, a soldier sent to help Dunsby attempted to use a vehicle but the clutch was not working. An army ambulance got stranded behind a locked gate before becoming bogged down after the driver tried to navigate through a farm.
One of the most intriguing witnesses at the inquest was the director of UK Special Forces at the time of the tragedy, who gave evidence under the codename EE. To the ire of the coroner, Louise Hunt, and relatives of the men who died, he told an anecdote about how, at a low point during his own test march, he had stopped for 45 minutes, made himself a stew and changed his socks before pushing on to the finishing line.One of the most intriguing witnesses at the inquest was the director of UK Special Forces at the time of the tragedy, who gave evidence under the codename EE. To the ire of the coroner, Louise Hunt, and relatives of the men who died, he told an anecdote about how, at a low point during his own test march, he had stopped for 45 minutes, made himself a stew and changed his socks before pushing on to the finishing line.
EE, a major general, gave a rare glimpse into the workings of the SAS, explaining it was a “decentralised” organisation in which very experienced individuals were largely left to get on with their own duties. He also suggested attention was elsewhere at that time – specifically on Afghanistan where Special Forces were under fire and under huge pressure. EE, a major general, gave a rare glimpse into the workings of the SAS, explaining it was a “decentralised” organisation in which very experienced individuals were largely left to get on with their own duties. He suggested attention was elsewhere at that time – specifically on Afghanistan where Special Forces were under fire and under huge pressure.
EE suggested 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 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.
The coroner told EE she was concerned by the service’s “do or die” and “carry on whatever” attitude.The coroner told EE she was concerned by the service’s “do or die” and “carry on whatever” attitude.
James Dunsby, 31James Dunsby, 31
Corporal James Dunsby was a hugely experienced reservist who fought the Taliban in Afghanistan alongside Prince Harry.Corporal James Dunsby was a hugely experienced reservist who fought the Taliban in Afghanistan alongside Prince Harry.
Born in Solihull, Dunsby’s first taste of military life was with the Royal Tasmania Regiment in Australia, where he trained as a combat medic. After returning to the UK, he was deployed in 2008 to Helmand with the Household Cavalry.Born in Solihull, Dunsby’s first taste of military life was with the Royal Tasmania Regiment in Australia, where he trained as a combat medic. After returning to the UK, he was deployed in 2008 to Helmand with the Household Cavalry.
Dunsby was fascinated with history, political science and all things military and studied the theory of war at university. “He loved the British army,” his widow Bryher Dunsby said.Dunsby was fascinated with history, political science and all things military and studied the theory of war at university. “He loved the British army,” his widow Bryher Dunsby said.
Always a reservist, at the time of his death his full-time job was as an analyst with the Ministry of Defence, but he saw joining the SAS reserve as a fresh, exciting challenge. “He wanted to join the best of the best,” said Mrs Dunsby.Always a reservist, at the time of his death his full-time job was as an analyst with the Ministry of Defence, but he saw joining the SAS reserve as a fresh, exciting challenge. “He wanted to join the best of the best,” said Mrs Dunsby.
Edward Maher, 31Edward Maher, 31
Like Dunsby, Lance Corporal Edward Maher was no stranger to hot conditions having served as a reservist with a special forces observation unit in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Africa.Like Dunsby, Lance Corporal Edward Maher was no stranger to hot conditions having served as a reservist with a special forces observation unit in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Africa.
In his civilian life, he worked for a charity and had helped children orphaned by war and east Africans who lacked clean water. Maher, from Hampshire, had also done work for the military veterans’ charity Help for Heroes. In his civilian life, he worked for a charity and helped children orphaned by war and east Africans who lacked clean water. Maher, from Hampshire, had also done work for the military veterans’ charity Help for Heroes.
His family said he was “superbly fit” and loved boxing, martial arts and running. Relatives knew he was in training for a “demanding role” – and suspected it was special forces – but were too discreet to probe.His family said he was “superbly fit” and loved boxing, martial arts and running. Relatives knew he was in training for a “demanding role” – and suspected it was special forces – but were too discreet to probe.
Craig Roberts, 24Craig Roberts, 24
Born in north Wales, Lance Corporal Craig Roberts studied banking and had worked in finance in Canary Wharf, London. But he quit the City and at the time of his death was working as a teaching assistant in south-east London as he waited to take up a job at the department for education. Born in north Wales, Lance Corporal Craig Roberts studied banking and had worked in finance in Canary Wharf, London. But he quit the City and at the time of his death was working as a teaching assistant in south-east London as he waited to take up a job at the Department for Education.
At university he had joined the officers’ training corps and signed up as a reservist with the Royal Anglian Regiment. He had trained with the US National Guard in Texas and was stationed in Cyprus. When family and friends learned he was going for special forces selection they were not surprised. At his funeral his close friend, Richard Falconer, explained that his aim in life was not about wealth or power – but a “quest for perfection”. At university, he joined the officers’ training corps and signed up as a reservist with the Royal Anglian Regiment. He trained with the US National Guard in Texas and was stationed in Cyprus. When family and friends learned he was going for special forces selection, they were not surprised. At his funeral, his close friend, Richard Falconer, explained that his aim in life was not about wealth or power – but a “quest for perfection”.