Coroner finds 'defective' training and faulty alarm contributed to officer's death on Salisbury Plain

Coroner's verdict: the death was an accident, but systemic failures contributed to it

The Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court has concluded its investigation into the death of Second Lieutenant Max George, a 26-year-old officer from Durham, who died on 21 June 2022 on Salisbury Plain near Everleigh during Exercise Combat Spirit with 5 Rifles. According to BBC News, George was standing at the open rear door of a Warrior armoured vehicle when the exercise commander ordered it to reverse; the vehicle struck him, and he died at the scene from multiple injuries. Coroner Ian Singleton recorded a narrative conclusion: the death resulted from an accident, but the 'defective' training of the trainee commander who gave the order and the faulty alarm system contributed to the fatality.

A fault known about for four years

A key finding of the investigation: the vehicle's alarm system, which signals that the rear doors are open, had been faulty since 2018 and was never repaired, despite the fault having been reported. Lieutenant Colonel Graham Watson, who led the service inquiry, told the court that with a working alarm the driver would 'almost certainly' have stopped. He also suggested that the commander may have taken the noise of George exiting the vehicle as a sign that the officer had safely left it and closed the doors. The coroner additionally noted the absence of an effective maintenance regime for this vehicle, which was not routinely used for dismounting troops.

What has already changed and what remains unresolved

The Ministry of Defence said it has already implemented a number of safety measures: reversing a Warrior with the rear door open is now prohibited, and visual checks are required before any manoeuvre. The department also stated that it plans to replace the entire Warrior fleet from 2027. Brigadier Giles Maile, head of the Army Safety Group, acknowledged 'the seriousness of the failures that led to Max's tragic death' and apologised to the family on the second day of the hearings. A number of questions remain open, however: the coroner said he would decide later whether to issue a prevention of future deaths note, while the Ministry of Defence only promised to respond to the concerns raised during the investigation. The family's representative, Victoria Neale of Pepperells Solicitors, said the process had given the family 'important answers' and 'a degree of accountability', expressing hope that the measures taken, if properly observed, will reduce the risk of such a tragedy recurring.

Who Max George was

The court heard that George was regarded as a respected officer: he received the Queen's Medal as the best cadet of his intake at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Hadfield OBE, described him as 'a star that burned bright', possessing 'selfless compassion'. Before joining the army, George had been head pupil at Durham School, studied Russian at Newcastle University, and earned a master's degree with distinction from the University of Glasgow in Central and East European Studies with Russian.

Image source, MOD