A candidate who suffered heat illness during an SAS test march in which three other participants died had to wait three hours for medical treatment on the hillside, a coroner has heard.
The man, known by his codename 4E, said he became dizzy and disorientated and was hallucinating during the exercise in July 2013 on the Brecon Beacons, south Wales, for those seeking to become members of the elite special forces regiment.
He managed to get to a checkpoint and was withdrawn from the exercise for medical reasons. “It was obvious I was in a bit of a mess,” he said. “I was told to get in the back of the truck ... I was in there for two or three hours. I wasn’t receiving any treatment.”
He said he could not remember being treated back at camp.
The three reservists who died – Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, 24, Lance Corporal Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby, both 31 suffered hyperthermia during the test.
At least seven, and possibly as many as 10, candidates (all reservists) suffered heat illness as temperatures reached 27C (80.6F).
The inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, has heard a claim that the test march was not called off despite the soaring temperatures because of the paperwork a cancellation would have created.
Soldiers have described collapsing in the heat and having to be helped by their colleagues and by civilian hikers on the mountain. One soldier has claimed he was told to finish the march by an instructor even after a medic told him he had to stop or risk losing his life.
Others have described trying to put on a brave face when they arrived at checkpoints, even though they felt dreadful, because they were desperate to complete the test.
4E said he had no military experience before the SAS test week but decided to sign up for it to challenge himself. The inquest heard that he and another man who had been medically discharged sat in the back of the truck while directing staff and medics went to help others who were falling ill. Asked about the temperature, he said: “It was bearable.”
Another candidate, codenamed 2D, told the inquest how his only previous military experience was in a university officer corps. He said he was approached on the street by a “scout” and asked if he wanted to take the test. 2D said he was attracted by the prestige of the regiment and the “fantastic challenge”.
As the day of the march approached, 2D said he thought about whether he and his colleagues were prepared for the heat. “I did wonder whether in terms of heat we were properly acclimatised,” he said.
The hearing, expected to last four weeks, is to explore issues including how the exercise was planned, what checks were made about the weather, emergency procedures and what water was available. It will also look at whether the exercise should have been aborted when reservists started to suffer.
