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A Welsh Guard soldier who died after being wounded in a live shooting exercise has been appointed Sergeant Gavin Hillier.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm that Sergeant Gavin Hillier of the 1st Wales Guards Battalion died on 4 March 2021.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this tragic time.”
“An investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
The incident occurred in the Castlemartin RAC Range in Pembrokeshire on Thursday.
Castlemartin training area in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Photo: Google Street View
Dyfed-Powys police said they were leading the investigation into the death and officers are communicating with the Health and Safety Executive and the Defense Ministry.
In a statement, the force said: “An investigation has been launched into the death of a soldier at Castlemartin RAC Range following a military exercise.
“Dyfed-Powys police were called to the scene just before 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 4.
“Sadly, a man was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Our thoughts are with his family, who have been informed of the incident and are supported by specialized agents.”
Other soldiers have died at the Defense Ministry’s Castelemartin site in recent years.
In 2017, two corporals of the Royal Tank Regiment were killed after their tank exploded during an exercise at a firing range.
A 21-year-old soldier from the Royal Irish Regiment was also shot in the head and died while relaxing outside the training ground in 2012.
An investigation said he was hit in the temple by a single machine gun bullet fired during a training exercise and was illegally killed.
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