Emergency alarm failure on Warrior contributed to death of Rifles officer, inquiry finds

A service inquiry into the death of Second Lieutenant Max George has found a vital emergency alarm was not working on the Warrior vehicle he was trying to exit.

The member of 5th Battalion the Rifles was killed when the Warrior reversed over him at speed, during an exercise on the Salisbury Plain training area in 2022.

Second Lieutenant Max George had been taking part in Exercise Combat Spirit on 21 June 2022 when he attempted to exit the Warrior tracked vehicle through the rear door.

However, believing the dismount area was clear of personnel, the student commander of the Warrior ordered the driver to reverse at speed and 2Lt George was knocked to the ground and killed.

The service inquiry spent 11 months hearing detailed evidence about the incident.

In its report, it noted that similar accidents resulting in fatalities with the Warrior had occurred in 1998 and 1999 and a rear door alarm had been fitted to the fleet to prevent it happening again.

However, the alarm system on the Warrior involved in the death of 2Lt George was not working. It had been reported as faulty in 2018, but never rectified.

The inquiry stated that had the alarm been functioning properly it was "almost certain that the accident would not have occurred".

The inquiry panel found there were several factors across numerous areas which contributed to the accident, including a deficiency in some areas of training and organisation.

Forty-eight recommendations have been made to enhance safety for personnel using the Warrior going forward.