The dad of a young Scots soldier who died during an Army exercise has paid an emotional tribute to his son at an inquest.
On the opening day of a hearing into the death of 26-year-old , of 1 Rifles, said his son “touched everyone with his zest for life”.
The 57-year-old added: “He was a young man that was going places, with a great future ahead of him.”
Joshua had been carrying 25kg of equipment when he collapsed on a hot day, 400m from the end of the 13km annual fitness test course in , Wales, on July 19, 2016.
In total, 18 out of 41 soldiers dropped out, collapsed or were withdrawn by staff on the day.
Joshua, of Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, died three years after three Army reservists suffered fatal heat illness during an SAS selection march in the Brecon Beacons.
A 2017 defence service inquiry report concluded that Joshua, a “fit, capable and determined” soldier, died as a result of an
undiagnosed underlying medical condition, “within the definition of ”.
Report author had said Joshua “did not die as a direct result of doing the annual fitness test, despite July 19 being a hot day and two other members of the cadre requiring medical treatment for heat illness”.
But that conclusion was rejected by Joshua’s dad, who successfully applied for an inquest to be resumed into the death.
Phillip – who has another son currently serving in the – fought back the emotion as he said: “He shone his light on all of us.
“Had his life not been extinguished, I am sure that he would have achieved much more.”
He added: “His life might have been extinguished but his love lives on in all of us.
“Always swift and bold – and never forgotten.”
Joshua joined the Army in 2008 and was deployed on operations including to .
The inquest heard how the 2016 march was in preparation for an infantry leaders’ battle course running until July 30, and operated by the Rifles regimental training team.
By the half-way stage, 10 of the troops had already withdrawn, with one complaining of difficulties breathing “due to the heat”.
A forensic pathologist told the coroner: “If it’s found heat exertion played a significant role in the death, I would say this was a sudden death associated with heat and exertion.”
The inquest continues.
