A 'star' British Army officer was killed during a training exercise when he was reversed over by a tank that had nine known faults and didn't see him in its blind spot, an inquest heard today.
'Utterly exceptional' Second Lieutenant Max George was tragically struck down and crushed by a reversing Warrior FV511, moments after he exited the tank's rear.
A court heard the officer exited the armoured vehicle while it was stationary, but the tank's driver and its commander did not realise he was still at the rear of the Warrior.
A coroner was told Second Lieutenant George was trying to take his weapon from inside while holding open its 143kg (22st 7lb) back door.
Due to a series of faults in the tank's safety systems, its operators had no way of knowing the back door was still open, with Second Lieutenant George still back there and in a blind spot.
The Warrior quickly reversed at speed during the combat drill on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, and the 26-year-old – who had 'enormous' potential – was killed.
An inquest today heard the faults were not given top priority status so did not need to be fixed before the tank was used.
The death on June 21 2022 came three years after the broken alarm was first identified, Salisbury Coroner's Court heard.
The fallen Army officer was a former head pupil and boating captain of the prestigious Durham School, where his parents taught before going to university and later completing a masters degree.
Second Lieutenant Max George, 26, was killed when a Warrior infantry fighting vehicle reversed over him at speed on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
The court heard Second Lieutenant George was still at the rear of the Warrior and was reaching for his weapon in the vehicle when he was 'knocked to the ground and then run over'
Second Lieutenant George had been an Army reservist from the third year of his undergraduate degree, but decided to join the regular Army after completing his masters.
The officer had won the Queen's Medal – awarded to best cadet – when he passed out from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in December 2021.
He was made 30th platoon commander of the Fifth Battalion for The Rifles, before being asked to act as a platoon commander in a roleplay exercise for trainee tank commanders on June 14, 2022.
They were eight days into an extended exercise on Salisbury Plains when the Second Lieutenant died.
The court heard the Warrior FV511 tank was different from the usual FV510 and more difficult for soldiers to exit.
Lieutenant Colonel Graham Watson was appointed to lead a service investigation into the soldier's death.
He told the inquest the vehicle was being commanded by a student commander, with an experienced driver and gunner and two other occupants, including Second Lieutenant George.
Colonel Watson said: 'The other platoons commenced an advanced contact where they drive the vehicles until they reach the enemy and then engage in combat through the enemy's position.
The officer's mother, Vivienne George, told the court her son was 'utterly professional' with 'effortless leadership qualities'
'They reached their objective, a wood, and one section debussed at the southern end and another at the northern end to sweep through.
'As the sections cleared the woods on foot, the company commander realised they were in danger of engaging each other so he decided to put someone on the ground to prevent that. He chose Max George to coordinate the two sections.
'Approximately five to ten seconds after stopping he left the vehicle and was seen momentarily struggling with either a day pack or antenna which was caught in the door. He then tried to take his weapon from the vehicle.
'They checked the periscope and could no longer see George.
'After believing George was clear the commander commanded the driver to reverse. He reversed quickly to not be the subject of enemy fire.
'George was still at the rear and was reaching for his weapon in the vehicle. He was knocked to the ground and then run over by the left hand track.'
The court heard two safety supervisors arrived within seconds but assessed that nothing could be done to resuscitate the officer.
Colonel Watson went on to describe the faults with the vehicle, saying six were 'limited role' faults which in this case meant the vehicle couldn't be used for live firing.
The other three faults were classed as 'fully fit' faults, all relating to the rear doors, which didn't affect use.
He said that in June 2018 a snapped cable was recorded on an alarm which would sound if the rear doors were open and the vehicle was in gear, but that 'there was no requirement that the vehicle should be placed as not task worthy or limiting role if that was not working'.
The court heard the rear door locking plunger 'was also stuck so couldn't be locked in position'.
Colonel Watson continued: 'Anyone standing up to 4.8 metres away from the vehicle would be in its blind-spot.
'The driver does have a 'door open' light on the driver's panel but because the wiring loop was broken he has no way of knowing if the door was open or closed because it wasn't working.'
Second Lieutenant George's mother Vivienne George told the coroner her son had a reputation of being 'utterly professional' with 'effortless leadership qualities'.
She said: 'We are struck by just how adored Max was by everyone. Several officers were at pains to point out how rare it is for a young officer to have gained such a reputation so early in their career.'
The three-day inquest continues.