Tri-Service

Soldier Named After Dying In Training On Hottest Day Of Year

A Scottish infantry soldier who died while on a training exercise has been named as Josh Hoole.

The senior non-commissioned officer (NCO), from The Rifles regiment, died in the Brecon area of Wales on Tuesday, Britain's hottest day of the year so far.

He was taking part in pre-course training for the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course (see below for what it involves). It is not yet known how the soldier died.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: "Dyfed-Powys Police is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a male soldier that occurred on the Brecon Beacons on the morning of Tuesday, July 19, 2016.

"Police are working closely with the Ministry of Defence in relation to this sudden death. Next of kin and HM Coroner have been informed."

Hoole, from Ecclefechan, who served two tours in Afghanistan, is thought to have collapsed during an eight-mile training run close to the Infantry Battle School at Dering Lines in Brecon, which began at dawn on Tuesday.

The NCO's grandad, John Craig, wrote:

His stepmother, Carol Jeffreys, wrote:

Three soldiers died during an SAS training exercise in the Brecon Beacons on one of the hottest days of 2013.

Lance Corporals Edward Maher and Craig Roberts were pronounced dead on the Brecon Beacons after suffering heatstroke during a 16-mile (26km) SAS test march.

Corporal James Dunsby died from multiple organ failure in Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital more than two weeks later.

A coroner ruled that neglect played a part in their deaths.

More: Father Remembers Son Who Died On SAS Selection Exercise

Temperatures on Tuesday peaked at just above 30C (86F) in Brecon, the Met Office said.

In March the Health and Safety Executive announced it would issue a so-called Crown Censure to the Ministry of Defence over the 2013 deaths.

It said the MoD had failed to manage risks during the training exercise and added that it had worked since the deaths to ensure lessons were learned and future risks reduced.

Following Tuesday's death, new Defence Minister Mike Penning made the following statement:

Statement from Defence Minister Mike Penning following the death of a soldier in Brecon yesterday: pic.twitter.com/uQoEc0EWdZ
— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) July 20, 2016

Meanwhile, an Army spokeswoman said:

"We can confirm that a soldier from ITC Catterick died on 19 July while conducting pre-course training for the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course in Brecon."

The MoD is not yet naming Corporal Josh Hoole officially but say he had just finished an eight-mile fitness test and arrived back at Dering Line Barracks in Brecon when he collapsed. The BBC quoted a spokesman as saying:

"It was a two-week course and they were on day two. They all did the annual fitness test which is an eight-mile route carrying 25kg in two hours. No-one can do the route in less than 1 hour 50 minutes.