A soldier seriously injured after a training ground bomb explosion has launched a compensation claim against the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Jack Davis, 22, suffered spinal damage and had his left leg amputated after an enemy bomb exploded on a training range in Afghanistan. Colleague Lieutenant Corporal James Hill was killed in the explosion.
The inquest in to Lieutenant Corporal James Hill’s death found warnings that local people could plant improvised explosive devices, as they had access to the training ranges, had not been acted upon by senior officers.
The coroner ruled that Mr Hill was unlawfully killed while on active service.
Guardsman Davies said: “We had been there for about 10 or 15 minutes maybe, then there was a blinding flash and an explosion.
“I can’t remember coming round until I was back in hospital in the UK.
“Every soldier accepts that our job is dangerous but the fact Jimmy’s death could have been prevented makes me really angry.
“I hope the MoD has listened to what I, the coroner and lawyers have said and that training grounds are made as safe as they can be in future.”
He also said training ranges should be brought inside the wire fencing to prevent access by local people.
His solicitor added: “We will continue to support Jack in his own bid for justice so that a settlement can be agreed to ensure he can pay for the future care and rehabilitation he deserves and needs.”
A spokesman for the MoD said: “Searches of the training range were carried out using Vallon detectors and no IEDs were found.
“However, an investigation into the incident showed that more thorough procedures to reduce the risk of IEDs being planted should have been carried out.”
The MoD has now brought all training ranges inside British Army camps.
