28 September 2023 , 08:29
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Detectives are investigating the death of a soldier reportedly killed in a "brutal" training exercise.
Private Nabin Thapa collapsed and died following the session at Driffield Training Centre in East Yorkshire. The 35-year-old, serving in the Royal Logistics Corps (RLC), had undergone gruelling marches and drills before he collapsed on September 21.
According to Mail Online, Army colleagues told how instructors added additional exercises to the programme, allegedly causing him to collapse. Pt Thepa had been based with 6 Regiment with RLC, stationed in nearby Dishforth, North Yorkshire. He was originally from Nepal and was married, joining the British Army in 2019.
A source told the paper: "Thapa collapsed after the instructors decided to thrash everyone even though the exercises was supposed to be finished. We all did extra attacks and firing drills. It was brutal. That's why police are involved." The probe into Pt Thapa's death has reportedly been passed onto local force Humberside Police. The Mirror has contacted both Humberside and the Ministry of Defence for comment.
It comes after another British soldier died after a training exercise. Private Adam Brocklehurst, from the Infantry Training Centre Support Battalion, died at Sennybridge in Wales on September 20.
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Some 158 soldiers have died in or following training exercises since 2000, according to MoD figures, accounting for 5% of all military deaths in this time period. Of these, 136 were regular personnel and 22 were reserves. Most of the deaths (118) were injury-related, the department said, although disease-related conditions were the main cause of death for territorial Army personnel.
In 2013, the Army faced severe scrutiny after SAS reservists Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, Trooper Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby died following a gruelling march over the Brecon Beacons in Wales on the hottest day of the year. The three had been marching in extreme temperatures, with a subsequent investigation finding a catalogue of health and safety failures.
Lieutenant Colonel Jen Lockett, Commanding Officer of 6 Regiment, told MailOnline: "Private Nabin Thapa's devastating death is felt very deeply. Private Thapa achieved an incredible amount since he joined the Army, including an operational deployment with the United Nations in Cyprus.
"He was an extremely hardworking and dedicated soldier who led by example. Often found using his knowledge to develop more junior soldiers, he was well-respected and a popular member of the regiment. He will be greatly missed. Private Thapa's family have our deepest condolences and are in the regiment's thoughts at this tragic time."
A British Army spokesperson told The Mirror: “It is with immense sadness that we can confirm the death of Private Nabin Thapa on 21st September 2023 at the Driffield Training Area, South Yorkshire. Our thoughts are with Pte Thapa’s family and friends at this difficult time and we ask that their privacy is respected. The circumstances surrounding this death are being investigated by the civil police and it would be highly inappropriate to comment any further at this time.”
A spokesperson for Humberside said: “Officers were called to reports of a man having suffered a medical episode in Kelleythorpe on Thursday 21 September at 1.30pm. He was taken to hospital to receive treatment where he died a short while later. The circumstances surrounding his death are not being treated as suspicious however, they currently remain unexplained. Officers are conducting lines of enquiry with assistance from the defence, accident, and investigation branch. Our thoughts remain with his family at this extremely difficult time.”