CIVILIAN medics should “maybe” have been on standby for an SAS test march that claimed the lives of three soldiers and saw several others suffer serious heat illness, an inquest has heard.
In evidence, an army medic known as 1H said he not considered issues over mobile phone coverage on the Brecon Beacons should a 999 call have to be made.
Nor, the inquest at Solihull heard, had 1H read official guidance that said an exercise should be stopped halted where soldiers suffered heat illness.
Three army reservists – Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, 24, Lance Corporal Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby, both 31 – died after suffering hyperthermia as temperatures reached 27C (80.6F) during the “full kit” test march in July 2013.
Several other soldiers suffered heat illness.
Already, the inquest has heard a claim that the march was not called off because that would have caused too much paperwork.
Soldiers have given harrowing evidence of collapsing in the heat with concerns raised as to how long it for civilian medics to reach the scene and difficulties in communication.
1H, the inquest heard, drew up the medical plan for the march.
In evidence, 1H conceded that civilian ambulance services and mountain rescue had not been told of the exercise when, in hindsight given the heat, they maybe should have been.
Nor, he said, had he considered the “erratic” mobile phone coverage on the Beacons.
Previously, an instructor directing the march said that he, too, was unaware of official guidance that an exercise should be halted for heat illness.
1F accepted that the soldiers the march should have had access to “hot weather” kit rather than standard issue – but such kit was not allocated to reservists.
In evidence, 1F said there was no debrief about what had happened when the march ended – despite another march due the next day nor could he recall any “quick reaction” contingency in place for emergencies.
The inquest continues
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