Soldier 'cools down in fridge'

Troops complain they are suffering from heat exhaustion

A British medical soldier in Iraq has reportedly been treated for hypothermia after sleeping in a fridge to escape the intense heat.

According to the Mirror newspaper the lance corporal, who is in his 20s, was found fast asleep in the walk-in fridge and had to be rushed to hospital.

The man has not been named but is believed to be an army medic with 202 Field Hospital near Basra.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Defence said it was trying to address heat exhaustion experienced by UK troops in temperatures of 49C (120F).

The paper said the man told officers he had accidentally become trapped in the fridge after going to fetch supplies.

But a colleague told the paper: "The lad was a bit of a fool to think he could have a kip in the fridge and not suffer from pretty bad consequences.

Given the intensity of the heat out there, we are doing our very best to improve conditions for our troops MoD spokesman Troops swelter in Iraq

"But it's so hot here that most people kind of understand what was behind his bizarre logic.

"It's unbearable during the middle of the day."

The MoD has admitted living conditions for the 12,000 servicemen and women currently in southern Iraq were difficult.

Troops have complained they cannot sleep because of the heat and it is affecting their performance.