Soldiers at firing range 'died after tank expolsion'

Two British soldiers died after their tank exploded on a firing range during a training exercise, a coroner has heard.

Emergency services were called to a "mechanical explosion" on Castlemartin range in Pembrokeshire, Wales on 14 June.

Corporals Matthew Hatfield and Darren Neilson of the Royal Tank Regiment, died from their injuries.

Louise Hunt, senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, was told at the inquest opening that the provisional cause of death for Cpl Hatfield was "burns", while Cpl Neilson suffered a cardiac arrest after sustaining blast-related injuries.

One of the 'heavy' targets on the tank ranges at Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire

The men were taken to separate hospitals but died the following day.

Mr Evans said: "At 3.30pm on Wednesday, 14 June, the emergency services were summoned to a mechanical explosion at Castlemartin - it's an MoD firing range, in Pembrokeshire.

"Prior to that, a training exercise had been taking place. Four men were taken to hospital as a result, and two have since passed away.

"An investigation has since commenced to look into the circumstances of the incident."

A police-led joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and a separate Ministry of Defence service inquiry are currently under way to identify the circumstances.

Mr Evans said the MoD Defence Safety Authority had started its investigation on 27 June and was not expected to finish until February next year.

Castlemartin Range, spread over 5,930 acres (2,400 hectares), is used to carry out direct-fire live gunnery exercises for tanks and armoured vehicles.

Both of the men who died were gunnery instructors and had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.