Army officer killed by reversing vehicle during training exercise

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 15:14 · Archive

Second Lieutenant Max George, 26, died after being struck by a reversing Warrior armoured vehicle on Salisbury Plain in June 2022.

Second Lieutenant Max George, 26, from County Durham, died on 21 June 2022 after being struck and run over by a reversing Warrior armoured vehicle during Exercise Combat Spirit on Salisbury Plain. The inquest heard that George was stood by the open rear door of the vehicle when the student commander, unaware he was still exiting, gave the order to reverse at speed. The 26-year-old died at the scene near Everleigh from multiple traumatic injuries.

Coroner Ian Singleton recorded the death as an accident but highlighted a series of safety failings. He criticised the training of the student commander as flawed and noted that the rear-door alarm system, which could have warned the driver, was not working. The alarm had been faulty since 2018 and had not been repaired despite being reported. The coroner also identified a lack of effective maintenance for the vehicle and noted it was not ordinarily used for disembarking troops, despite being used for that purpose during the exercise.

The Ministry of Defence said it had already made several safety improvements in response to the incident. These included preventing Warrior vehicles from reversing with the rear door open and requiring visual checks to be carried out before any movement. Victoria Neale, representing George's family, said the inquest provided them with "important answers" and a "degree of accountability".

Army officer killed by reversing vehicle during training exercise — Image: BBC Wiltshire

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How it is being reported

'Flawed' training contributed to officer's deathA coroner rules Second Lt Max George's death on Salisbury Plain was an accident.BBC Wiltshire · 5 Nov, 14:55
‘Flawed’ training highlighted after Army officer’s accidental deathAn inquest heard a rear-door alarm that could have warned the Warrior driver was not working when Second Lieutenant Max George was killed.Salisbury Journal · 5 Nov, 14:13

In this story: Second Lieutenant Max George · Salisbury Plain · Ministry of Defence · County Durham

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