An Army officer was killed during a training exercise in June 2022 after being struck by a reversing armoured vehicle with multiple known faults, an inquest has heard. Second Lieutenant Max George, 26, of the Fifth Battalion of The Rifles, died instantly after falling under the 25-ton Warrior FV511 as it moved in reverse on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

The incident occurred when Lieutenant George exited the rear of the Warrior, which was stationary at the time, to retrieve his weapon while holding open the heavy rear door weighing approximately 143 kilograms. The vehicle’s driver and commander were unaware that he remained in the rear blind spot, as safety systems designed to alert operators to open doors or occupants in vulnerable positions were not functioning correctly. The alarm intended to warn when the rear doors were open had been broken since 2018, and additional faults related to the door mechanism and wiring were also present.

During the inquest at Salisbury Coroner’s Court, Lieutenant Colonel Graham Watson, who led the military investigation into the incident, detailed that the Warrior FV511 had nine known faults prior to the accident. Of these, six were classified as limiting role faults, which restricted some vehicle capabilities but did not render it unfit for use. Three faults specifically related to the rear doors and their alarms. Despite these faults, the vehicle was considered safe enough to be used for training exercises, a decision now acknowledged by the Army as inappropriate.

According to Lt Col Watson, the student commander, believing Lieutenant George was clear of the vehicle after exiting, ordered the driver to reverse at speed to reduce exposure to potential enemy fire during the exercise. However, Lieutenant George was still at the rear, reaching for his weapon inside the tank, and was struck and run over as the Warrior moved backward.

Lieutenant George, described at the inquest as an "utterly exceptional" officer with considerable leadership potential, was eight days into an extended combat roleplay exercise known as Exercise Combat Spirit at the time. His mother read a statement highlighting the esteem in which he was held by peers and superiors alike, noting his natural leadership and the affection his soldiers had for him.

Following the tragedy, further inspections revealed an additional 24 severe faults in the vehicle, underscoring concerns about the reliability and safety of some Warrior tanks in service. The Army has acknowledged that using a vehicle with such safety faults was “not correct.” The inquest into Lieutenant George’s death is ongoing, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances that led to this fatal accident.