AN inquest has heard a harrowing accounts of desperate efforts made to save a heat stricken soldier who collapsed and died during an SAS test march.
Lance Corporal Craig Roberts was struck down close to the end of the 26 mile “full kit” march on the Brecon Beacons - carrying 49lbs in temperatures topping 27C.
Evidence put to the inquest in Solihull told how L/Cpl Roberts, 24, was found collapsed by colleague who immediately administered first aid and activated his “man down” alarm to summon help.
Soldiers, army staff and civilian paramedics spent around two hours working on L/Cpl Roberts before he was pronounced dead.
L/Cpl Roberts and two other reservists, Lance Corporal Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby, both 31, died after suffering hyperthermia during the march in July 2013.
Several other soldiers needed treatment for heat-related illness.
A soldier identified as 1D told the inquest that he was about half a kilometre from the march finish line when he heard a “heavy breathing noise” and found L/Cpl Roberts lying on his stomach making a “convulsing sound” and vomiting.
Roberts was “pale, hot and not responding” then stopped breathing completely.
A second soldier and military medics responded to the “man down” alarm ahead of civilian paramedics and an air ambulance.
2D said about two hours was spent on the resuscitation effort but it seemed to take a “long time” for initial help to arrive.
The second soldier to reach Roberts, 1E, told the inquest of the determination amongst the marchers to finish the test – a factor that may have contributed to the resulting illnesses and death.
It was, he said, a mindset that meant disguising any indication of struggling with the conditions.
The inquest continues
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