Nine soldiers die in training every year

ONE in 20 deaths in the armed forces happens during training.

Drills and exercises have claimed the lives of 131 service personnel over the past 15 years, according to the Ministry of Defence – a rate of nine a year.

They have been shot during mock battles, crushed by armoured vehicles, died in parachute accidents and drowned during river crossings while heavily-laden.

The figures were released yesterday following heavy criticism of the army over the death of a young recruit from heatstroke.

alan large, assistant coroner for wiltshire and swindon, said officers had failed to notice the ‘fundamental defects in the disciplinary and punishment system’ in the case of Private Gavin williams.

The 22-year- old had been in the Royal welsh Regiment for just a year when he was subjected to a fatal ‘beasting’ on one of the hottest days of 2006.

last year military chiefs were severely criticised over the deaths of three Ta soldiers while training in the Brecon Beacons.

Philippa Tuckman, a lawyer specialising in military injuries, said: ‘It is not good enough for the Ministry of Defence to say these things are inevitable because that just makes it more important that correct procedures are followed.’

an MoD spokesman said it was vital to train personnel to the highest possible levels and this involved risks, adding: ‘all training activity is conducted to ensure these are as low as reasonably practical.’