A RECENTLY released document by the Defence Safety Authority has revealed the details of how a soldier was killed during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain in 2022.

Second Lieutenant Max George, 26, died near Tidworth on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. At the time, the Ministry of Defence said that he had died in a “non-operational training incident”.

A 240-page document published online by the government on Tuesday, January 16 has now provided the details of the circumstances that led to 2nd Lt George’s death.

According to the investigation, which involved more than 150 exhibits and more than 40 witnesses, 2nd Lt George was run over by the left track of a Warrior FV11 (Raven) tank which his unit, Company D of the 5 Rifles, had acquired in May 2022, upon which “numerous faults with the vehicle (21 in total) were recorded” but none of which “imposed a ‘limited role’ on its ability to carry troops in the section working department or that rendered the vehicle ‘non-taskworthy’”.

One of the faults present was that of a non-working rear door backup safety alarm system which had been out of commission since 2018. Such alarms were added to the Warrior tanks after similar fatalities in the late 1990s.

The narrative detailed the moment 2nd Lt George was run over, saying he was reaching for his weapon when the vehicle reversed.

The report said: “The reversing FV11 knocked 2nd Lt George to the ground, who was then run over by the vehicle’s left-hand track.”

It also said that others in the area attempted to warn of the danger to no avail.

All operations of the training exercise were stopped immediately, with other personnel arriving on the scene within seconds and determining that 2nd Lt George was deceased. His death was confirmed by air ambulance personnel approximately 34 minutes after the accident.

Policy changes have been recommended in response to the incident, which an Army spokesperson said are being quickly implemented.

The spokesperson said: “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Second Lieutenant Max George’s family and friends at this sad and difficult time. The safety and welfare of our personnel is of the utmost importance.

“We have accepted all the recommendations in the Service Inquiry report, including improved training and additional safety measures for the Warrior rear exit. Plans to action these recommendations are being implemented as a matter of urgency.”