Soldier dies during Army training exercise

A soldier has died in a training exercise on Salisbury Plain.

The 23-year-old was part of a crew operating an armoured vehicle in a training area near Enford, Wiltshire, on Friday.

A source said the vehicle overturned and hit a tree, trapping several survivors and the dead man inside.

The presence of live ammunition meant firefighters could not use cutting equipment, so Army engineers rescued those inside, the source added.

It took several hours for the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers to free the soldiers.

An Army spokesman said: "It is with sadness that we can confirm the death of a soldier on Salisbury Plain Training Area."

Wiltshire Police said it was investigating alongside the Health and Safety Executive and the Army.

Offering condolences to the man's family, Devizes MP Danny Kruger said: "While thankfully rare, it is vital that all serious accidents that take place during military training exercises are comprehensively investigated.

"We owe so much to the young men and women who risk their lives for our safety and we must do everything we can to keep them safe as well."

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said crews were called to the scene at 11:57, along with a heavy rescue unit. The patient was taken to Salisbury Hospital, the ambulance service added.

Most recently, Salisbury has been the base for the Army Warfighting Experiment with troops testing out new kit as the Army adapts to digital warfare which is increasingly becoming more prominent across the world.

This week, private companies have also been pitching their latest gear, with soldiers testing out equipment and giving them feedback.

The British Army currently has about 76,500 soldiers, with about 15,000 based around the West Country.

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