A British army officer has died following an incident during live fire training at Otterburn Training Area in Northumberland, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Captain Philip Gilbert Muldowney, 25, a fire support commander in the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, died on Sunday.
The MoD described Muldowney as an “immensely enthusiastic officer who embraced life with a vigour that inspired those around him”. He joined the army on 5 January 2020 and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in December that year after attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
An army spokesperson said: “The circumstances surrounding Capt Muldowney’s death are being investigated, and it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.” The officer had served in multiple roles, including deployment to Estonia in November 2021. He was seriously injured while undertaking a commando course at Lympstone, East Devon, in January 2025, but later completed the fire support team commanders’ course after rehabilitation.
Tributes have been paid by colleagues. Commanding officer Lt Col Henry Waller said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Capt Philip Gilbert Muldowney. Always full of ideas and never without a bright smile, Gilbert approached every challenge wholeheartedly.” Waller described him as an “outstanding officer” and a “rising star” who “consistently put his soldiers first”.
Capt Helen Brackenbury said Muldowney was a “truly kind person”, “highly competent and endearingly joyful”, adding: “It has been the pleasure of my career to have served alongside him.”
