Inquest opens into deaths of soldiers in tank tragedy

TWO British soldiers died after their tank exploded during a training exercise, a coroner heard.

Corporals Matthew Hatfield and Darren Neilson of the Royal Tank Regiment were fatally injured at Castlemartin range in Pembrokeshire on June 14.

The inquest opening was told provisional cause DEAD Darren, left and Matt of death for Cpl Hatfield was “burns”, while Cpl Neilson suffered a cardiac arrest due to blast injuries. A police-led investigation has begun.

Cpl Neilson, 31, of Preston, Lancs, and Cpl Hatfield, 27, of Amesbury, Wilts, had both served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Louise Hunt, senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, set a provisional date of July 2 2018 for the full inquest.