updated Two men killed in Brecon Beacons during Ministry of Defence exercise - WalesOnline

Two servicemen have died during a Ministry of Defence exercise in the Brecon Beacons on the hottest day of the year.

The men had been on an exercise in the Beacons on Saturday – where temperatures topped 29.5C (85.1F) – before they died.

It is understood the exercise was intense and that the deaths are not due to an accident involving firearms or a fall.

A third serviceman was taken to hospital and remains in a serious condition.

The Ministry of Defence and police said they were both investigating the incidents, which happened near the Storey Arms Centre.

An MoD source said: "It is a case of the people succumbing to being affected by the training that they were doing."

Dyfed-Powys Police says it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

A police spokeswoman said: "A Ministry of Defence exercise was taking place in the area, and they are fully co-operating with our enquiries.

"The next of kin are being informed, and HM Coroner has been informed. Further information will be available when appropriate."

A statement from the Ministry of Defence said: "The MoD can confirm that it is working with Dyfed-Powys Police to investigate an incident during a training exercise on the Brecon Beacons on Saturday in which two members of military personnel died.

"The two servicemen's next of kin have been informed. More information will be released in due course but it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. Any further enquiries should be referred to Dyfed-Powys Police."

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year for many parts of the country, and temperatures in nearby Usk reached 29.2C (84.5F).

The military use the Brecon Beacons for a wide range of exercises for various Army personnel.

The Infantry Battle School (IBS) is based at Brecon and the tough, demanding landscape is used to put regular and special forces soldiers through their paces.

The Army website says the Brecon Beacons are used because they are so demanding and prepare soldiers for the "extraordinary things" they have to do on deployment.

The website says: "Training for high-intensity, light-role war fighting is the way soldiers and officers are prepared for any operational situation they may face – conventional war, counter insurgency, security sector reform, peacekeeping or supporting civil authorities.

"Training at IBS is delivered here by high-quality instructors with a wealth of operational experience, and rated in the top third of the Infantry.

"This ensures that the training is as close to current operations and pre-deployment training as possible, whilst maintaining the ability to train for high intensity war fighting.

"IBS delivers competent and confident commanders for the Field Army by running command and leadership training, infantry tactics training, weapons training, and live firing range qualifications. It also provides specialist training teams to assist foreign forces in their development, and allocates some places on courses for overseas students."