Army to be cleared over death of soldier on Brecon Beacons training exercise

The Army is set to be cleared over the death of a young soldier who died during on a training exercise in Brecon on the hottest day of the year.

26-year-old Corporal Joshua Hoole collapsed on a tough training yomp - three years after three other soldiers died in the same mountain range in the Brecon Beacons.

But police investigating his death say Cpl Hoole died of natural causes and have ruled out criminal action.

The soldier of the Rifles regiment collapsed at the end of an eight-mile fitness run around the Powys market town on July 19 - when temperatures hit 30C.

His family have been told Cpl Hoole - who completed two tours of Afghanistan - may have been suffering from an underlying heart condition that went previously undetected in Army medical tests.

Cpl Hoole, of Ecclefechan in Scotland, was preparing for a seven-week training course for promotion to platoon sergeant when he died close to the Infantry Battle School at Dering Lines in Brecon.

Speaking previously his father said his son knew the risks of his job.

His death came almost exactly three years after three other soldiers died while on an SAS selection course in the same mountains in July 2013