Inquest told soldier was crushed

Corporal Rees leaves a wife and two children

An Army corporal suffered fatal injuries when he was crushed while moving vehicles which were being sent to Iraq, an inquest heard.

Cpl Thomas Rees, 32, was in charge of unloading the vehicles at Teesport Docks, Teesside, on 23 May last year.

While Cpl Rees, from Pembrey, South Wales, guided one vehicle off a lorry, a second rolled down the ramp, crushing him between the two.

The inquest jury was told he died from multiple injuries.

Pathologist Dr Mark Egan told the hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court: "Death was inevitable. They represent unsurvivable internal injuries."

The inquest heard how Cpl Rees, who was based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, was "exhausted" at the time of the incident.

Reconstruction played

It heard personnel from the First Battalion King's Regiment had been working all week to prepare vehicles for shipping to the Gulf. The soldiers were due to go on leave after loading before flying out to the Gulf themselves.

Cpl Rees, who was known to his family as Eirian, left two children and his 28-year-old wife Andrea.

A 10-minute video tape of the scene, followed by a reconstruction was played.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Ruth Bolton told the inquest since the incident, the Army has clarified its guidelines to personnel standing between vehicles which are being manoeuvred.

She also said civilian contractors Elliott Sergeant, of Southampton, which moved the carriers from Catterick to the port, have also clarified guidelines so drivers do not unchain the personnel carriers until they are ready to be unloaded.

The inquest was adjourned and will resume on Thursday.