Tall Soldier Shot In Head By Stray Bullet While Standing In "Secure" Area

A 6ft 7in tall soldier was killed when he was hit in the head by friendly fire on a training exercise, an inquest has heard. Ranger Michael Maguire, 21, died when he shot by a machine gun after returning safely from Afghanistan. The soldier – known to his friends as "High Tower"- had been standing in a designated administrative area, deemed to be secure, outside the training area when the stray bullet hit him.

The inquest heard Ranger Maguire, who was not wearing a helmet, was waiting in a field a kilometre away from the action zone when he was killed. Ranger Maguire had survived a tour of duty in Afghanistan but died following the accident at Castlemartin range in Pembrokeshire.

Army medic Michael Gleeson said: "I was sat in the battlefield ambulance when we received a call to say someone had been hurt. 

"As we arrived the people around him started grabbing kit and throwing it out of the way.

"They were making a work space for us – which made it clear we where dealing with a serious casualty.

"I ran over to him, they had applied an emergency bandage to Michael Maguire's wound, to the left side of his temple.

"I applied CPR to him until for 15 to 20 minutes until an air ambulance arrived – the whole time I was with him he was unconscious."

Cardiff Coroner's Court heard how Ranger Maguire was on army training exercise with the 1st battalion of The Royal Irish Regiment when he died. The soldiers were taking part in a training exercise firing machine guns and rifles series of static and pop-up targets when the accident happened.

Ranger Maguire was stood in an administration area where soldiers eat their lunch and pack their gear when he was struck in the head. He was rushed by helicopter to the University Hospital in Wales suffering from head injuries but doctors were unable to save him. His father Michael Snr told the hearing: "I loved Michael dearly and will miss him terribly.

"He was a sporting, fit lad and very lovable and he was always very happy with army life."

Ranger Maguire was from Bantry, in County Cork, Ireland and went to school at nearby St Goban's College. After school he joined the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment on 10 May, 2010, and was sent to Afghanistan four months later. The Castlemartin Army Training Area was established in 1939 and covers 5900 in South Pembrokeshire.

The inquest continues.