Soldier dies and 3 hurt as shell explodes inside tank

A SOLDIER was killed and three others seriously wounded when a shell exploded in their tank during a “live fire” exercise, the Ministry of Defence revealed yesterday.

The tragedy was triggered by a malfunction in the £4million Challenger 2’s turret during the routine exercise on Wednesday.

The explosion in Pembrokeshire destroyed the 75-ton tank and the four-man crew would have had no chance of escaping the blast.

Investigators are trying to establish whether a round exploded while it was being fired or whether something else set off the ammunition in the turret. The soldier who died was from the Royal Tank Regiment and was airlifted to hospital in Birmingham but he succumbed to his injuries with his family by his bedside.

The other three soldiers, all based at Tidworth, Wilts, are in a serious condition.

The incident occurred at the 5,900-acre Castlemartin Ranges in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Dyfed-Powys Police were alerted at 3.30pm on Wednesday.

A spokeswoman said: “Four men were injured. Two were conveyed to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, one to the Heath Hospital in Cardiff and another to a hospital in Birmingham by air ambulance. Tragically we can confirm the incident has resulted in the death of one and the other three are in a serious condition in hospital.

“All next of kin have been informed and are being supported. Police have launched an investigation and are working closely with the Health and Safety Executive and the Ministry of Defence.”

Veterans Minister Tobias Ellwood said: “The safety of our personnel is our absolute priority and a full investigation is under way to understand the details of this tragic incident.”

A 21-year-old soldier died at Castlemartin five years ago when he was hit in the head by a stray machine-gun bullet.