MoD 'should hang heads in shame' over death of Army hero

MINISTRY of Defence chiefs were today told by a coroner they "should hang their heads in shame" over equipment shortages that led to the death of a heroic British soldier in Afghanistan.

Coroner Andrew Walker delivered the damning verdict after hearing that Corporal Mark Wright was killed while trying to help an injured colleague caught in a minefield. The "downwash" from a Chinook helicopter set off a mine.

The inquest into his death heard that Corporal Wright, 27, and colleagues had requested a helicopter with a winch because of the danger of triggering a mine but were sent the Chinook because nothing with a winch was available.

The decision proved fatal when the air pressure caused by the Chinook's rotors as it approached the ground set off a landmine which inflicted severe shrapnel wounds on Corporal Wright.

Six other soldiers were hurt, including three who lost limbs, during the incident in the region of Kajaki in Helmand Province on 6 September, 2006, and the rescue was only completed after two American Blackhawk helicopters, fitted with winches, were sent to save them three-and-a-half hours later.

Delivering a verdict of accidental death at the inquest in Oxford, Mr Walker said Cpl Wright, who was posthumously awarded a George Cross for his bravery, had been let down by the Ministry of Defence and he hit out over the failures which led to his death.

"That a brave soldier is lost in battle is always a matter of deep sadness but when that life is lost where it need not have been because of a lack of equipment and assets, those responsible should hang their heads in shame," said Mr Walker.

He said a number of serious failures that contributed to Cpl Wright's death. The most serious were the lack of appropriate UK helicopters in Afghanistan fitted with a winch, the downwash from the Chinook sent to the minefield, and the administrative delay in sending a suitable helicopter. He said other serious flaws included a lack of batteries for radios at observation posts and the failure to provide information to soldiers about mines in the area.

The coroner also criticised the methods used to train soldiers to locate and mark mines and said training failed to take account of technology that could improve the detection of mines.