Soldier, 23, died from a head injury after his tank flipped

Soldier, 23, died from a head injury after his tank flipped during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain, inquest hears

  • Private Jethro Watson-Pickering was behind the wheel of the armoured vehicle
  • The 23-year-old had a ‘significant’ and fatal head injury as a result of the accident
  • The soldiers were training in Salisbury Plain, Wilts, near the village of Enford

A young British Army soldier died after suffering a devastating head injury when the tank he was driving flipped during a training exercise, an inquest heard today.

Private Jethro Watson-Pickering was behind the wheel of the armoured vehicle which was carrying two other soldiers when its gun barrel struck a tree.

The 23-year-old had a ‘significant’ and fatal head injury as a result of the accident at midday and tragically died, a coroner was told.

The soldiers were training in Salisbury Plain, Wilts, near the village of Enford on October 15 when the tank flipped.

Army engineers reportedly had to cut trapped soldiers free from the overturned tank and Pte Watson-Pickering was pronounced dead at the scene and identified by a colleague, Salisbury Coroner’s Court heard.

Pte Watson-Pickering, from the village of Boosbeck, near Redcar on Teesside, was serving with the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.

Private Jethro Watson-Pickering (pictured) was behind the wheel of the armoured vehicle which was carrying two other soldiers when its gun barrel struck a tree

Coroner Ian Singleton opened the inquest but then adjourned it while Wiltshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive investigate.

Mr Singleton said: ‘On October 15 he was involved in military training, he was the driver with two others inside. At 12.00 they were travelling off road when the barrel of the vehicle struck a tree, causing it to rotate, striking him in the head.

‘He sustained significant injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene that day.’

Mr Singleton said an examination showed Pte Watson-Pickering ‘died of a head injury’ and added a full examination will be conducted.

Mr Singleton said the young soldier was identified by a colleague who had worked with him for a year.

The soldiers were training in Salisbury Plain, Wilts, near the village of Enford on October 15 when the tank flipped. Pictured, the scene after the soldier’s death

Mr Singleton said an examination showed Pte Watson-Pickering ‘died of a head injury’ and added a full examination will be conducted. Pictured, the training area 

The coroner also said: ‘His death is being investigated by police and the Health and Safety Executive which will take some time.’

An inquest review will take place in April next year, Mr Singleton said.

Following Pte Watson-Pickering’s tragic death, an Army spokesman said ‘thoughts and sympathies of the Army are with the family and friends of Pte Watson-Pickering at this very sad time’.

Posting online at the time, The Yorkshire Regiment said: ‘The Yorkshire Regiment very much regrets to announce the death on Friday October 15 of Pte Jethro Watson-Pickering.

‘He was from Boosbeck, Redcar, Cleveland and was deployed on exercise on Salisbury Plain.

‘The thoughts and prayers of the regimental family are with his family. Fortune Favours the Brave’.’

No family members attended the five-minute hearing at Salisbury Coroner’s Court today.

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