Officer injured in exercise

[Groundhog]

Last Updated: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 07:13
Army officer injured in military exercise


A young army officer is in critical condition today after he was injured during a military exercise in Co Cork last night.
The man, who is based in Collins Barracks, Cork, was working at a safety umpire in a night firing exercise at Kilworth range at about 11.30pm when he received blast injuries.

Army paramedics were on the scene and moved him by ambulance from the range within minutes of the accident.

He has been taken to Cork University Hospital where his condition is described as critical but stable. The lieutenant is expected to undergo surgery this morning.

His family and next of kin have been informed of the incident and are at the hospital.

The scene has been preserved and a Military Police investigation is to start later today.

No one else was injured during the incident.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0604/breaking4.htm

[DeV]

Get well soon

[Connaught Stranger]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[SwiftandSure]

Poor chap, get well soon!

[Jetjock]

Army spokesman interviewed on Today indicated specifically that they are investigating the possibility of backblast injuries from the SRAAW.

Get well soon to the injured officer.

What level of medevac is available on exercises such as this? Ground based? Air Corps? It's a short hop from Waterford for the Sikorsky.

[Dazzler]

http://news.eircom.net/breakingnews/15804147/?view=Standard

Injured soldier set for more surgery

Further details have emerged regarding last night's training injury to Lieutenant Kenneth Sheehan at Kilworth, Co Cork.

Sheehan, 29, from Cork City, has undergone surgery this morning at Cork University Hospital, where he was treated for has injuries to his right arm, chest and face. His condition is described as critical and he is expected to undergo further surgery.

Lt. Sheehan is engaged to be married. His parents and fiancée are with him at Cork University Hospital.

Lt Sheehan joined the Defence Forces in 2002. He is a Communications officer, but is attached to the local Brigade Training Centre as an instructor with a training course of 38 students and 14 instructors.

He has served overseas in Liberia in November 2005 (94 Infantry Battalion, UNMIL) and last year in Chad in March 2008 (97 Infantry Battalion, EUFOR). He is based in Collins Barracks, Cork with 1 Field Communications and Information Services Company.

The military investigation into this incident is ongoing. The Bofors AT-4 is a small, shoulder launched rocket that has been in service with the army since 1998.

This weapon has been fired in training thousands of times to date, and was fired last night from a set position to a fixed target. All firing of this weapon has ceased with immediate effect pending the outcome of this investigation.

There has been one previous incident in a live fire, movement exercise (in October 2008) where a safety umpire received injuries that required hospitalisation, but not with serious injury to the soldier concerned.

The Defence Forces said that it wishes Ken and his family well with his recovery and the thoughts of the entire military family are with them all.

Caught in the Backblast of a SRAAW, poor fellow I hope he get's well soon.

[womble]

get well soon

[Muzzle]

Here's the full press release:

Defence Forces Press Office
Statement.

Lieutenant Kenneth Sheehan (29) from Cork City was the officer injured last night in a training accident at Kilworth, Co Cork. He has undergone surgery this morning at Cork University Hospital. He has injuries to his right arm, chest and face. His condition is described as critical. He is expected to undergo further surgery.

Lt. Sheehan is engaged to be married. His parents and fiancée are with him at Cork University Hospital. The Defence Forces wishes Ken and his family well with his recovery and the thoughts of the entire military family are with them all.

Lt. Sheehan joined the Defence Forces in 2002. He is a Communications officer, but is attached to the local Brigade Training Centre as an instructor with a training course of 38 students and 14 instructors. He has served overseas in Liberia in November 2005 (94 Infantry Battalion, UNMIL) and last year in Chad in March 2008 (97 Infantry Battalion, EUFOR). He is based in Collins Barracks, Cork with 1 Field Communications and Information Services Company.

The military investigation into this incident is ongoing. The Bofors AT-4 is a small, shoulder launched rocket that has been in service with the army since 1998. This weapon has been fired in training thousands of times to date, and was fired last night from a set position to a fixed target. All firing of this weapon has ceased with immediate effect pending the outcome of this investigation.

The Defence Forces fires weapons and rehearses military skills regularly by day and night so that soldiers are proficient in all conditions, at home and overseas. Such training exercises are subject to strict supervision and safety procedures. The investigation will examine these procedures.

There has been one previous incident in a live fire, movement exercise (in October 2008) where a safety umpire received injuries that required hospitalisation, but not with serious injury to the soldier concerned.

ENDS.


Gavin Young
Commandant
Defence Forces Press Officer
Defence Forces HQ, Infirmary Road, Dublin 7

[Duffer]

Hope that this man makes a full a speedy recovery

[Vickers]

Ken served with the 62 CIS for a period. A very nice and helpful person. I wish him a speedy recovery.

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
Wishing him a full and speedy recovery.
regards
GttC

[Traumagod]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[luchi]

Ken served with the 62 CIS for a period. A very nice and helpful person. I wish him a speedy recovery.

I thought so!!

and likewise I hope all goes well with the op.

[DeV]

Mr. Willie O’Dea, TD, Minister for Defence, this morning expressed his concern for the young army officer who was seriously injured in a training accident in Kilworth, Co. Cork last night.
Minister O’Dea said “This fine young man is in our thoughts and prayers this morning. I want to take this opportunity to wish him and his family well in dealing with this accident and in recovering from his injuries.”
“I have been advised by the Chief of Staff that the accident scene has been preserved and a full investigation into the incident is taking place.”

[Goldie fish]

Hopefully the injuries are at the lower end of the scale for backblast.

Get well soon.