British Army officer crushed to death by armoured troop carrier with broken safety alarm that had not been fixed for years, investigation concludes
Published: 01:50, 18 January 2024 | Updated: 01:57, 18 January 2024
A British Army officer was crushed to death by an armoured troop carrier that had a broken safety alarm, an investigation has concluded.
Second Lieutenant Max George[2] died from head injuries after being hit by the Warrior army vehicle on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, in 2022.
He exited the 24.5-tonne military machine moments before the driver reversed ‘at speed’ and ran him over unknowingly.
The 26-year-old, who was a former head pupil of the prestigious Durham School where his parents taught, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Warrior’s safety alarm system was reported as faulty in 2018 but it had not been fixed.
It has been reported [3]that similar accidents with the Warrior had occurred more than two decades ago, in 1998 and 1999, resulting in fatalities.
As a result, the rear door alarm was fitted.
Second Lieutenant Max George died from head injuries after being hit by the Warrior army vehicle on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, in 2022
The Warrior’s safety alarm system had been reported as faulty in 2018 but it had not been fixed (stock image)
Air Marshal Steve Shell, of the Defence Safety Authority told The Sun:[4] ‘This accident was preventable and there are areas we must improve upon immediately to prevent it happening again.’
An investigation found the Army was ‘over-committed and under-resourced’, according to the outlet.
His commanding officer, Lt Col Jim Hadfield OBE, said: ‘Max was a star that burned bright.
‘Effortlessly impressive, he was a natural commander, who exuded fierce determination matched by selfless compassion.
We loved him for it.
‘He stood out, and still stands out; we are so much poorer for his loss.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.’
The officer had won the Queen’s Medal – awarded to best cadet – when he passed out from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in December 2021.
His father Martin was a headteacher at Durham School where his mother Vivienne also taught, and his sister Claudia was a pupil.
The family released a statement at the time that said: ‘Max was killed in a training accident on Salisbury Plain early on Tuesday 21st June 2022 whilst serving with the 5th Battalion The Rifles, having fulfilled his life’s ambition in joining the regular army.
‘The whole family is very proud of his outstanding achievements and his loss is a devastating heartbreak for us all.’
After winning academic prizes at school, he studied Politics with Russian at Newcastle University where he was awarded a First.
He then obtained a Distinction in his Masters in Eastern European and Eurasian Studies with Russian at the University of Glasgow.
MailOnline has approached the Ministry of Defence for comment.
References
- ^ Gina Kalsi (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Max George (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ reported (www.forces.net)
- ^ The Sun: (www.thesun.co.uk)
- ^ Max George (www.dailymail.co.uk)