SAS selection deaths: Soldiers paid ultimate price trying to be ‘best of the best’
Known for their rugged and varied terrain, the Brecon Beacons has been the training ground of the special forces for years. It’s there that SAS tests soldiers to be the best of the best.
Those who take part know, they’ll be pushing themselves to the limits. But two years ago three men paid the ultimate price.
Lance Corporal Edward Maher from Winchester, Lance Corporal Craig Roberts from Penrhyn Bay, and Corporal James Dunsby from Trowbridge, were all part of an SAS reservist test march in the Beacons on July 13, 2013.
It was one of the hottest days of the year, with temperatures reaching 30C. 78 soldiers set off with rucksacks weighing 50lbs, their mission to cover 16 miles in under nine hours.
Each soldier was monitored during the march using a tracking device, which plotted their location every 10 minutes.
At 3.15pm Craig Roberts’s emergency ‘man down button’ was pushed. He collapsed just half a kilometre from the finish line, but wasn’t found by instructors until 16:00.
Edward Maher’s tracker showed he stopped moving at 2.16pm. It was two and a half hours before he was located.
James Dunsby stopped moving at 3.20pm while on the last leg of the route. He wasn’t found until 4.52pm.
Seven other candidates attempting ‘selection’ for reserve special forces units, were also treated for the effects of heat, including four who were hospitalised.
L/Cpl Roberts and L/Cpl Maher were both pronounced dead at the scene. Cpl Dunsby was taken to hospital, but died two weeks later. A post mortem all three died from over-heating.
During the inquest, one expert told the court the cause of death could have been avoided.
The 20-day inquest also heard of other potential failings that day:
Two of the five checkpoints had no water
Ministry of Defence guidelines on heat stress were not followed
There were also questions over whether the reservists had been properly acclimatised or conditioned beforehand.
There were also questions over whether the reservists had been properly acclimatised or conditioned before hand.
One soldier, who served with the SAS at the time of the deaths, told ITV News he believes this inquest and the coroner’s verdict will do little to change the attitude of the Ministry of Defence and special forces.
In the her ruling that neglect contributed to the deaths of the three reservists, and citing 'gross failings' on the part of the Ministry of Defence, the coroner said it still doesn't have a clear plan and guidance on the treatment of heat illness.