Local News · Salisbury
Inquest examines death of army officer during Salisbury Plain training exercise
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
An inquest is currently underway at Swindon and Wiltshire Coroners' Court into the death of a 26-year-old army officer who was fatally injured during a training exercise.
A talented army officer died following a fatal collision with an armoured vehicle during a tactical training exercise on Salisbury Plain, an inquest at the Swindon and Wiltshire Coroners' Court has heard. Max George, 26, was serving as a second lieutenant when the incident occurred in June 2022.
During the resumed hearing on Monday, October 26, tributes were paid to the officer, who was described by his mother as an exceptional individual dedicated to his service and charitable work. Mrs George shared that her son was widely admired for his professionalism, calmness, and humility. His academic achievements, including a first-class degree from Newcastle University and a master's degree from Glasgow, preceded his time at Sandhurst and his commission into the armed forces.
The inquest heard detailed evidence regarding the circumstances leading to the tragedy. Mr George had been positioned in an FV511 armoured vehicle, a model typically used by commanders, rather than the FV510 often used for infantry debussing. Evidence provided to the court by Lieutenant Colonel Graham Watson highlighted that there were no prescribed drills for exiting the FV511, which required manual door operation.
The court was told that during the drill, a student commander ordered Mr George to exit the vehicle to address a tactical situation involving the risk of friendly fire. As he exited the vehicle, he was carrying a radio, which may have caught on the door. It was heard that the motion of the vehicle and the turret created a clunking sound, which the commander interpreted as a sign the door had closed.
Approximately 40 seconds after the vehicle halted, the student commander ordered the driver to reverse. Evidence presented to the coroner revealed that the vehicle's safety systems failed to alert the crew to the danger. Tests subsequently confirmed a significant blind spot behind the vehicle, and investigators found that neither the door alarm nor the instrument panel light, which should have activated if the vehicle was put in gear with the door open, had triggered.
The inquest heard that despite attempts by observers to alert those inside the vehicle via radio, the reversal occurred before the danger could be averted. The proceedings at the Swindon and Wiltshire Coroners' Court in Salisbury are expected to conclude the investigation into the circumstances of Mr George's death.
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