Ministry of Defence admits soldier death failings

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been issued with a Crown Censure and admitted it failed a soldier who died during a training exercise.

Private Jethro Watson-Pickering, 23, from Boosbeck, near Redcar on Teesside, was killed in October 2021 when the armoured vehicle he was driving hit a tree during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

After an investigation, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued the Crown Censure, which is the maximum sanction available and acts as an official reprimand.

Accepting the censure on behalf of the British Army, General Sir Roly Walker apologised and said: "Jethro should never have died. We failed him and those who loved him."

Walker, chief of the general staff, said: "My thoughts are first and foremost with Jethro Watson-Pickering's family and friends.

"I am deeply sorry for their loss and for the Army's failings that contributed to his death."

He added: "We failed to properly assess and control the risks, failed in our training and instruction, and failed to provide a safe vehicle.

"We have made significant changes since his death to prevent such a tragedy happening again. But no change can undo what happened.

"Our responsibility is to make sure the lessons endure in how we train, lead and look after our people every day."

On 15 October 2021, Watson-Pickering, of the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, was taking part in an exercise known as Iron Storm, acting as the driver of an armoured fighting vehicle.

At approximately 11:50 BST, the vehicle's gun barrel struck a tree. The turret rotated unexpectedly and the rear storage bin struck Watson-Pickering's head, causing fatal injuries. He died at the scene.

The HSE found risk assessments had failed to identify the potential danger and that, as a result, no control measures were put in place to stop the driver's head being struck.

It further found the risk assessments were not properly reviewed after similar incidents in previous years and that instruction and training were also inadequate.

HSE inspector Emma O'Hara said: "Just like any other employer, the MoD has a responsibility to take all reasonably practicable steps to control the risks to the safety of its employees. In this case, it failed to do so, which has cost a young man his life.

"Training exercises must be properly planned, with risks identified and mitigated, to prevent future tragic incidents like this one."

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