Brecon Beacons, David Evans, Flickr
An infantry soldier is reported to have died yesterday in the Brecon Beacons, south Wales, during a training exercise on the hottest day of the year.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed “that a solider from Infantry Training Centre Catterick died on 19 July while conducting pre-course training for the platoon sergeants’ battle course in Brecon”.
Temperatures in the Brecon Beacons peaked at just above 30C, according to the Met Office.
This comes almost three years to the day after three soldiers died on an SAS selection exercise in the Brecon Beacons.
Reservists Edward Maher, James Dunsby and Craig Roberts fell ill while on a training march. Mr Roberts and Mr Maher died during the exercise on 13 July 2013, while Mr Dunsby suffered multiple organ failure (as a result of hyperthermia) and died on 30 July 2013.
In March 2016, the Health and Safety Executive announced that it was administer a Crown Censure to the MoD over the deaths.
This was the most serious punishment open to the HSE, and acts as an official record of failing to meet standards set out in law, but one which has no financial penalty.
During the investigation into the deaths in 2013, the HSE found a failure to plan, assess and manage risks associated with climatic illness during the training.
A spokesperson for HSE said: “HSE has been informed of the death of a member of the armed forces at Derring Lines in the Brecon Beacons.
“Dyfed-Powys Police are leading the initial enquiries into the soldier’s death and HSE will not speculate at this stage on the exact circumstances of this fatal incident.”
Another tradegy on the Brecons. as an ex service person, I applaud the effort and will power of the men and women who defend our country and seek to gain promotion within their own regiments, however, it is time that the services themselves called a halt to allowing persons to over perform rather than withdraw from the proceeding. I accept that service men and women will be called on to act in times of war or in deployed situations, in extreme environments and they do need to learn, however this person was on a senior NCO course and the appreciation… Read more »