52% of armed forces injuries caused during training

More injuries were caused during training than in any other activity for full-time members of the Armed Forces, figures show.

In 2017/18, 52% of total injuries among the UK regular armed forces occurred in training – with 13% of those taking place on adventure training, according to Ministry of Defence (MoD) health and safety statistics.

The figures are published just days after families called on the MoD to be stripped of its immunity from prosecution after two SAS servicemen were acquitted of negligently performing a duty over a march in which three reservists died.

L/Cpl Craig Roberts, 24, and L/Cpl Edward Maher, 31, were pronounced dead in the Brecon Beacons after suffering heatstroke on July 13 2013.

Cpl James Dunsby, 31, died at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital from multiple organ failure more than two weeks later.

Two servicemen, known only as 1A and 1B, were acquitted of negligently performing a duty by failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of the candidates.

Clare Stevens, partner at JMW Solicitors and a military injury legal specialist, who has represented members of two of the reservists’ families, said the MoD figures “disgrace”.

She said: “Never before has it been so important that immunity from prosecution be removed.

“The statistics really are a disgrace – 52% of the total incidents took place during training.” are a

Anthony Joshua