Brecon Beacons deaths: MoD names one of army reservists
Lance Corporal Craig Roberts was one of two soldiers who died during training exercise in hot weather at weekend
One of two army reservists who died in the Brecon Beacons has been named by the Ministry of Defence as Lance Corporal Craig Roberts.
An MoD spokesman said: “It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence can confirm the death of LCpl Craig Roberts and another army reserve soldier during a training exercise in the Brecon Beacons at the weekend. Our thoughts are with their families and friends at this difficult time.
“The families of the soldiers have requested that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
He is understood to have been in his early 20s and was a teacher.
There are growing calls for military chiefs to review guidance on strenuous training in hot weather as sources confirmed that the two volunteers who died were taking part in the SAS selection process.
The two men were involved in a gruelling exercise in south Wales to prove their fitness to become SAS reservists when they were apparently overcome by the heat.
Mountain rescue teams helped service personnel evacuate the pair and as many as four others from the rugged mountains on Saturday afternoon, as temperatures soared to 30C (86F). A third man who was badly affected remains in serious condition in hospital.
The incident happened on or near the slopes of Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in southern Britain and venue for the notorious “fan dance”, which involves would-be SAS members marching up the mountain, down the other side and back again while carrying a weighted pack and rifle – then doing the route in reverse in a set time.
Dyfed-Powys police and the MoD are investigating the incident but there were already calls for military chiefs to look again at the stress and strains faced by would-be special services members during training.
Dan Jarvis, the Labour MP and a former member of the Parachute Regiment, called for the MoD to review its guidance on training in harsh conditions. “I robustly defend the right of the army to conduct the most rigorous training. We have got to have people who are used to facing adversity.
“Having said that, there are very strict rules that apply when training is taking place in adverse conditions. Something has gone wrong. We need to get to the bottom of it.”
Jarvis said he had trained on the Brecon Beacons in hot and cold weather: “It is incredibly arduous.”
Simon Thomas, the Plaid Cymru assembly member for mid and west Wales, which includes the Beacons, said: “Our thoughts are with the families at this dreadful time, and we send best wishes for the recovery of the third soldier affected.
“The UK government plans to rely more heavily upon members of the Territorial Army in future and so they must receive the best training and the same duty of care. Lessons must be learnt as more information from this comes to light.
“The Brecon Beacons are a beautiful part of the …read more
