Central ARMY

Speaking after a coroner ruled that neglect contributed to the deaths of three Army reservists, Brigadier John Donnelly, director of army personnel services, said: "We are truly sorry for all the mistakes the coroner identified today."

Neglect played a part in the deaths of three Army reservists, including one from Trowbridge, who collapsed during an SAS test march, a coroner has ruled.

In narrative verdicts recorded at an inquest into the deaths of Corporal James Dunsby, from Trowbridge, Lance Corporal Craig Roberts and Lance Corporal Edward Maher, senior Birmingham coroner Louise Hunt found delays in providing medical treatment contributed to their deaths after the exercise on the Brecon Beacons in 2013.

Speaking at the hearing in Solihull, she said: "There would have been an obvious need for this attention and there was a delay in providing effective medical treatment, in not identifying they were static, which contributed to their deaths."

No part of the armed forces can be above the law, the widow of an army reservist has said following the conclusion of the inquest into his death.

Bryher Dunsby said the inquest into her husband James's death had uncovered "countless and embarrassing failings" as she accused the Ministry of Defence of "losing sight" of its values and demonstrating "no responsibility".

Speaking outside the inquest in Solihull, she urged the MoD to show "maturity and look at its failings, and to want to improve".

She paid tribute to her "chivalrous, loyal and high-spirited" husband, saying he would have been "hugely disappointed" in the MoD.

Neglect played a part in the deaths of three Army reservists who collapsed during an SAS test march, senior Birmingham coroner Louise Hunt has ruled at an inquest in Solihull.

A verdict is expected today into the deaths of three SAS reservists who died from a fatal heat illness while on a training exercise.

Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, who went to the University of Leicester, was among the men who died in the Brecon Beacons in July 2013.

• 11.18am first reports of men struggling with the heat.
• At 3.36pm, L/Cpl Roberts activated his personal "man-down" beacon showing he was in trouble, and was found 25 minutes later.
• L/Cpl Maher, had set off on the same route at a slightly different time, but at 4.10pm his tracker showed he had also stopped. He was not found for another 45 minutes, and was "not breathing". He was only about 1,000 yards from the finishing line.
• Cpl Dunsby was on a different route, but started to fall behind time. At 4.10pm, he was noted as not making any progress, and at 4.52pm he was actually found by directing staff

Both L/Cpl Roberts and L/Cpl Maher died of hyperthermia, while Cpl Dunsby died of multiple organ failure as a result of hyperthermia.

A coroner at the inquest into the deaths of three soldiers who died whilst on a test march in the Brecon Beacons says the officers in charge 'failed to comply' with army guidelines.