Special forces soldier severely injured after fellow serviceman fires seven times at point-blank range during training

An elite special forces trainee accidentally fired seven live rounds at point-blank range, injuring a fellow serviceman during a January 2019 hostage-training drill. Soldier A sustained life-changing injuries and later developed post-traumatic stress disorder, ultimately receiving a medical discharge. The shooter, Soldier B, believed he had loaded blanks but used live ammunition instead. The location and the soldiers’ identities were withheld for security reasons, and the case later came before a Wiltshire-based court martial.

According to the court, several safety failures contributed to the mishap. A safety briefing scheduled for the day was canceled, and the magazines used in the exercise could not be reliably distinguished between blanks and live rounds. Prosecutors said Soldier B, an experienced soldier training with the unit for the first time, was eager to impress and did not want to be the last one ready, contributing to a rapid reload in a dim area and a failure to properly check the magazine before inserting it. He fired 23 live rounds over the course of the hostage-taking drill; the final seven struck Soldier A, causing injuries to the chest, abdomen, right arm and left forearm.

Judge England handed Soldier B a six-month suspended jail sentence, and ordered him to pay £5,000 in compensation to Soldier A. He pleaded guilty to negligently performing his duties. The court noted Soldier A's injuries required multiple reconstructive surgeries and left lifelong scarring; Soldier A, in a victim statement read by Lt Col Emma Whiting, said, "There is no doubt, if I hadn't been wearing my body armour, I would have been shot dead." Soldier A's medical discharge followed in the wake of the incident and meant the end of his service.

The case underscores risks in high-stakes training environments and the consequences of lapses in safety protocols. The unit has said it will review its safety measures to prevent a recurrence, including clearer distinctions between blank and live ammunition and more robust briefs and checks before live-fire exercises. The incident drew attention to safety in elite forces training and has become a focal point for discussions about discipline, risk management and accountability.

Soldier B also apologized to Soldier A during hospital visits, and the sentence was accompanied by the compensation payment. The case remains a notable example of an accident that could have had fatal consequences, and its handling reflects the military justice system's approach to negligent conduct within the armed forces.