FEARS of adverse publicity saw a soldier on a fatal SAS test march stopped from attending hospital for suspected heat illness, an inquest heard.

 In evidence, the soldier, identified as 2D, said he felt “very ill” after successfully completing  and, on phoning his father, was told to seek urgent treatment.

At the exercise medical centre 2D  was put in a bed and given water with tests showing his blood pressure as abnormal.

Told the centre’s medics were all engaged, 2D said he was discouraged from going to a civilian hospital because “the press would have a field day”.

Instead, 2D was advised that he was under army jurisdiction and his colleagues would watch over him.

Eventually given permission to go to hospital, 2D was put on drips and a heart monitor, diagnosed with acute kidney injuries and in a “pretty terrible state”.

Three army reservists – Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, 24, Lance Corporal Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby, both 31 – died after suffering hyperthermia during the test in the Brecon Beacons in July 2013.

Their inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, has heard at least 10 soldiers on the “full kit” march in heat topping 27C and carrying up to 49lb were taken ill.

Soldiers have described collapsing in the heat and having to be helped by their colleagues and by civilian hikers on the mountain.

2D said his confidence in the army had been shaken by what he experienced saying there had been an “outright failure of common sense” in the medical centre.

In evidence, 2D admitted to doubts as to whether or not he and his colleagues were prepared for the heat on a march that required  “very intelligent management” to make sure motivated candidates did not push themselves too far.

A second candidate, 4E, told the inquest that he spent some three hours in the back of a truck without receiving any medical treatment after being forced to withdraw from the march at a checkpoint.

4E described being dizzy, disorientated and hallucinating.

“I was in a bit of a mess, I was told to get in the back of the truck, I was in there for two or three hours. I wasn’t receiving any treatment,” he said.

 4E could not remember being treated at the exercise medical centre.

The inquest continues.