A coroner has criticised safety procedures during training exercises after a young officer was struck and killed by a reversing armoured vehicle. Second Lieutenant Max George, from County Durham, was fatally wounded on Salisbury Plain in June 2022 by an armoured Warrior vehicle.
Details of the incident
The coroner's court heard how Lt George was knocked to the ground as the vehicle reversed and then run over. The Warrior's student commander gave the order to reverse at speed without realising the 26-year-old was exiting the vehicle.
During a hearing on Thursday, area coroner Ian Singleton said Lt George had died at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries and recorded his death as an accident. Recording a narrative conclusion, he noted safety failings including the use of the vehicle for debussing, despite this not being its intended purpose, and the lack of an “effective maintenance regime” for the door alarm system, which was faulty.
Training and equipment failures
He added that the training of the student commander in relation to the vehicle was “flawed” and that there was a lack of appropriate vehicles and personnel on the exercise. The inquest heard that members of 5 Rifles had been taking part in Exercise Combat Spirit on the day of the incident. As two groups of soldiers were converging on a target, Lt George was ordered to exit the vehicle and take command on the ground.
The coroner said the student commander on the exercise believed Lt George had moved away from the vehicle when he ordered the driver to reverse. “The Warrior reversed before Max had moved clear, knocking him to the ground and running over him,” he said.
Known faults and family tributes
The inquest heard the exercise was using two types of Warrior – the FV-510 and FV-511 models – and Lt George’s vehicle was not ordinarily used for disembarking troops and close combat. Lieutenant Colonel Graham Watson, who led a service inquiry into the incident, said alarms were installed in the vehicles after two fatal incidents in the 1990s. He previously told the inquest that several faults with the Warrior were known about, including an alarm that should have alerted the driver when the Warrior’s rear doors were open.
Lt George’s exit from the vehicle created a “clunking noise”, which may have led the vehicle commander to assume he was clear and had shut the doors, Col Watson said. “This was part of his reasoning to why he gave the command for the vehicle to reverse after he waited a few seconds after hearing the clunk and not seeing anything at the rear,” he added. “The built in alarm would have alarmed because the rear doors were open, and had that gone off the driver would have almost certainly stopped. In addition on the driver’s instrument panel, because the rear doors were open there should have been a light, but again because the wiring loop was damaged that didn’t light up.”
During the inquest, Lt George was described by his family as a “caring, devoted” son and brother. His mother Vivienne told the court: “We, as Max’s family, could sing his praises all day, but the tributes we received from his friends, his peers, senior Army personnel, school teachers, and everyone who met or even had heard of Max, speak louder than anything we can say. We are struck by just how adored Max is by everybody he came across. Several senior officers were at pains to claim it is rare for a young officer to have gained such a reputation so early in their career. Max had effortless leadership qualities, and he truly was a star. His potential was enormous, and he was an exceptionally talented, yet humble man. Max’s soldiers so dearly adored him, which is testament to his fine character and natural flair.”
Accountability and Army response
Victoria Neale, of Pepperells Solicitors, which represented the family, said: “(Lt George) was a highly respected and talented officer of the highest calibre, a proud member of the armed forces who loved his work, and was dedicated to serving his country. He is greatly missed by his family, his comrades and all who knew him. We would like to thank the coroner for the care with which the inquest was conducted. The inquest provided the family with important answers about the circumstances surrounding Max’s death and identified many faults and failings that caused and contributed to this tragedy, including the use of equipment for a purpose for which it was not intended, equipment faults, and failures in critical safety systems and training procedures. Whilst nothing can change the outcome for Max’s family, the findings provide a degree of accountability. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that changes have since been made in response to the findings of its investigations. Whilst nothing can undo the family’s loss, it is hoped that these measures, if implemented and adhered to, will reduce the risk of a similar tragedy occurring in the future.”
Brigadier Giles Malec, head of the Army Safety Group, said: “First and foremost, our thoughts and sympathies remain with Second Lieutenant Max George’s family and friends at this very sad and difficult time. Max served his country with pride and is sorely missed by his loved ones and military colleagues. We recognise the seriousness of the failures which led to Max’s tragic death and remain committed to ensuring that the lessons identified are properly embedded, that risks are reduced, and outstanding recommendations continue to be progressed. We thank Max’s family for their composure and strength during this process, and we acknowledge the professionalism of all those involved in examining the circumstances surrounding Max’s death. We respect the coroner’s conclusion and will look to rectify any additional failures identified. Max’s service will not be forgotten, and we owe it to his memory, to his loved ones, and to all who serve to ensure the failures identified by this inquest are not repeated. The Army continues to extend its sincere condolences to all those affected by his death.”
