Father of heat death soldier: We can’t go soft on troops
THE father of a ‘super-fit’ Scottish soldier who died on a training exercise on the hottest day of the year said yesterday that troops should not be ‘wrapped in cotton wool’.
Phillip Hoole, a former sergeant major, rejected any suggestion that the rules should be softened after his son collapsed at the end of a gruelling march in the Brecon Beacons.
Corporal Josh Hoole, 26, a member of the Rifles infantry regiment who served twice in Afghanistan and once in Iraq, died last week in the same area where three SAS hopefuls suffered fatal heat exhaustion owing to neglect on the warmest day of 2013.
After the death of Cpl Hoole, of Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, lawyers who represented one of the would-be SAS troops said that if this was another heat-related case it would be ‘unforgivable’.
Police launched an immediate inquiry and those leading the march were questioned.
The Ministry of Defence also launched an investigation into Cpl Hoole’s death minutes after he returned from an eight-mile test march in full kit weighing 55lb.
The cause of his death has yet to be established.
Speaking for the first time since the death of his son, whose funeral will take place today, Mr Hoole, 54, said the Army’s tough training was not to blame.
The ex-soldier said: ‘It was a normal run done within the confines laid down by the Army. Josh wouldn’t have wanted the soldiers that were with him, or the medics, to feel any personal blame. He was doing his job and knew the risks.’
He criticised politicians for questioning the Army’s practice of training in high temperatures and demanding changes in procedures.
Mr Hoole said: ‘The way the MPs are talking, if there were more checks and balances placed on the Army and soldiers were wrapped in cotton wool the MPs would ultimately be responsible for a lack of duty of care.
‘Being a soldier, by the very nature of the job, means that at times you have to fight in various countries in extreme climatic conditions. There’s a phrase which is simply put: “Train hard, fight easy”.’
He said his son, who had been due to marry his fiancée Rachael McKie this year, was proud to be in the Army, just like his brother Tyrone.
Cpl Hoole, who was based at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire, did the march as preparatory training for the Platoon Sergeants’ Battle Course.
Mr Hoole said: ‘He was about 200 metres from the end and he told someone he wasn’t feeling too good and collapsed. Then members of the Army around him and the medics did their best to save him.’
Last Tuesday was the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures peaking above 86F in Brecon. They had reached 72F by the time the march ended around 9am.
Mr Hoole added: ‘Josh wouldn’t have been happy with the way people have had a knee-jerk reaction because it was the hottest day of the year. He always gave his all.
‘But he was also a very caring young man who would help anybody. All those who knew him were blessed to spend time with him.’
Cpl Hoole was due to be best man at his brother’s wedding to Carey Taylor, 25, in Edinburgh this weekend. Tyrone, 27, who is with 3 Rifles, is set to read out the best man’s speech Cpl Hoole had prepared.
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