Inquest hears how guidelines overlooked in fatal SAS test march where Winchester soldier Edward Maher died

Lance Corporal Edward Maher from Winchester was one of three soldiers who took part in the fatal military exercise on one of the hottest days of 2013.

An inquest into their deaths has heard that the army medic, soldier 1H, said he had “not really looked at” joint service guidance advising that military exercises should be called off if a heat injury is diagnosed.

Giving evidence at Birmingham and Solihull Coroners Court 1H also conceded that an air ambulance should have been put on stand-by during the July march.

L/Cpl Maher, 31, Lance Corporal Craig Roberts and Corporal James Dunsby died after collapsing due to the effects of heat in the latter stages of the 16-mile (26km 'selection' test in the Brecon Beacons in South Wales.

On the fifth day of the inquest, questions were also put to 1H about a joint services document stating that military activities should be halted if a heat injury is reported.

Giving his answer from behind a screen, 1H told Coroner Louise Hunt: “I wasn’t aware that all activity had to be stopped.

“In our medical training we do go over some documents but, as you can understand, there are quite a lot of documents.”

Soldier 1H said he had looked at the document since 2013 but added: “We were told it’s just guidelines and we are not told to read it.

“We are basically just told we don’t have to read it.”

The medic, an Afghanistan veteran, took part in efforts to revive L/Cpl Roberts after his collapse at around 3.30pm, near the final march checkpoint.

At 12.46pm on July 13, the combat technician was also involved in assessing soldier 2P after he was medically withdrawn from the march with a heat illness.

Asked how severe 2P’s condition had been, 1H told the coroner: “I have seen worse in Kenya and places like that. On a scale of one to 10, he was a six, maybe.

“I think, throughout, I did pull some people off the march that felt they didn’t have to come off, so I think I was pretty vigilant.”

Emergency medical technician Wayne Thomas also gave evidence to the inquest, describing how he joined attempts to save L/Cpl Roberts on the hillside near Beacons Reservoir.

After making his way across fields alongside a mountain rescue team, Mr Thomas emerged from trees, looked up and witnessed Army personnel performing CPR.

Mr Thomas then took over from an Army medic, carried on with CPR and used a defibrillator but found no heart rhythm.

Paramedic Geraint Tucker also attended to L/Cpl Roberts, giving him adrenaline. He said: “We made every effort” Mr Thomas said. “From what I saw, everybody I came into contact with that day tried their hardest and their best.”

The inquest is expected to continue for another three weeks.