The MoD’s failure to supply a regiment with proper equipment was the reason that a British soldier serving in Afghanistan died when the tank he was repairing crushed him. This is according to Andrew Walker, the coroner who today recorded his verdict on the incident.

The soldier in question was Lieutenant Corporal Sean Tansey. A year-and-a-half ago, Tansey was at work in Helmand province, carrying out repairs on a Scimitar tank.

His life, said Walker, could have been saved if the MoD had supplied wooden planks of the kind designed to cushion the impact of a tank collapsing.

Speaking today, Walker said: "The training and equipment were inadequate for the repair of this vehicle.

"This court has heard evidence of the failure to provide basic equipment for the maintenance of vehicles, which has been described by one witness as amounting to a gross or serious failure.

"It is quite unfair that the soldiers should be criticised when their training was not adequate and their equipment was not sufficient."

“Skidding” Planks

Those present at the inquest were told that the planks – “skidding”, in military parlance – would, if in place, had meant survival for Tansey.

Present at the time the incident occurred was Lieutenant Corporal Edward Sampson. Describing the fatal action, he stated:"There was a big clunk. The vehicle pitched forwards and Sean's head was underneath it."

Asked by Walker on whether soldiers were able to cite health and safety reasons if refusing to carry out certain tasks, Sampson replied:

"That's not the way the army works. If you are told to do something you do it."

On the subject of a nearby source of wood, Walker said that “foraging in a hostile environment to find chocks and skidding" was not for soldiers to get involved in.

British Soldier Killed in Parachuting Accident

Earlier this year, Andrew Walker was involved in investigating the death of a British soldier who was killed in a parachuting accident. Here, again, lack of equipment was blamed for the loss of life.

Today, Walker said that he would contact the MoD to ensure that all Army vehicle kits included skidding as mandatory.

A spokesman for the MoD said, in a statement, that “...thoughts and sympathies are with the family, friends and colleagues of Lance Corporal Sean Tansey at this difficult time.”

He added: "We note the coroner's comments and will ensure that lessons are learnt from this tragic incident."

Source – Armed Forces International’s Political Correspondent

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