An inquiry reveals a soldier’s tragic death during a training exercise in the Scottish Highlands due to an unexpected rifle discharge
Tain: A soldier tragically lost his life when his rifle went off unexpectedly during a training exercise in the Scottish Highlands. This incident involved Lance Corporal Joe Spencer, who was just 24 years old.
On November 1, 2016, while participating in a sniper training course, his rifle discharged without warning. Joe was originally from Hampshire and had joined the British Army in 2011.
He had served in various deployments, including Afghanistan, where he was injured in a grenade attack. Sadly, he was killed during a new sniper operators’ course that started in early October.
At the time of the incident, Joe was waiting for his turn, with his rifle resting on his foot. The inquiry revealed that he was not in a position to pull the trigger manually.
The sheriff noted that the rifle went off while Joe was gently moving it up and down. This unexpected discharge caused a fatal head wound.
A local doctor was called, but Joe was pronounced dead shortly after. The sheriff pointed out that Joe’s failure to unload his rifle properly after a live fire exercise contributed to the tragedy.
He also mentioned that the training course had some shortcomings, particularly in communication during the unloading drill. A safety officer had left the range, which meant they couldn’t confirm if Joe had unloaded his rifle correctly.
Investigations found no faults with the rifle itself, suggesting that the trigger may have snagged on something while Joe was adjusting the rifle’s position.
The sheriff concluded that Joe’s death resulted from a combination of decisions made by several individuals, including Joe himself, but emphasized that there was no malice involved.
He expressed condolences to Joe’s family and friends, highlighting that he was a well-loved soldier with a strong character and commitment to service.
Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks also acknowledged the sheriff’s findings and extended his thoughts to Joe’s loved ones during this difficult time.
