Afghan blast scene 'thought to be safe'

Warrant Officer Sean Upton, 35, of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, died in an explosion while he was on foot patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand Province in July last year.

At today's inquest at Richmond Town Hall, Coroner Rob Turnbull heard how WO Upton had been on a routine patrol searching for an IED (improvised explosive device) which had been found between Kajaki Dam and Sangin.

His job, as part of the Police Mentoring Team, was to locate the exact position of the bomb so that another team could later dispose of it.

Corporal Mark James Turnbull was one of two soldiers who were at the front of the foot patrol, sweeping the area with a valon (metal detector).

Cpl Turnbull told the inquest he made his way to a stopping point and found no trace of any IEDs and it was only when WO Upton was making his way to the back of the patrol in order to radio back the information that the explosion happened.

"There was a loud explosion, a bang", he told the inquest.

"Lance Corporal Belcher said 'what was that' and I instantly said 'IED'. I saw a large cloud of smoke first."

He continued: "I could just see figures emerging and I could hear Sergeant Wilson's voice, telling everyone to stop."

Cpl Turnbull said the explosion was followed by fire from a Rocket Powered Grenade (RPG) and the team made its way to safety before trying to find WO Upton, who could not be seen at the time.

Sergeant David Wilson told the inquest a "small crater" was left where WO Upton had been standing and it was only after making sure the area was safe that they discovered he had been thrown clear of the 6ft walls of a nearby compound by the force of the blast.

WO Upton's widow, Karen, was present at the inquest.

She was the first person to be presented with the Elizabeth Cross in a ceremony at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, and today wore it pinned to her black cardigan. It is awarded to the next of kin of armed forces personnel killed on active service or as a result of terrorism.

The inquest also heard evidence from Sergeant Lee Buckland, a search advisor in 26 Engineer Regiment.

He told the hearing the procedure which the team had undertaken in searching for the IED was standard and the valon may not have picked up the bomb that killed WO Upton because it may not have contained a lot of metal.

The inquest also heard that examinations of WO Upton's helmet, personal radio, glasses and body armour were not found to contain any faults.

Recording a verdict of unlawful killing, Mr Turnbull said WO Upton's death was not caused by any fault in procedure or equipment.

Speaking to Mrs Upton, he said: "I have read in preparation for the inquest many tributes to your husband.

"He was obviously a brave, dedicated and committed soldier and who was well liked and respected by all his colleagues."

He said the death of this "dedicated family man" was "tragic".

Mrs Upton, who has two children, Hollie and Ewan, with her husband, told a newspaper a diary WO Upton kept revealed that patrols in Afghanistan had been cancelled through a lack of ammunition.

A month before he was killed, WO Upton said in his diary that his men had fired as much ammunition as six days' worth in one "contact" with the Taliban, according to the Sun newspaper.

Mrs Upton told the paper: "This lifts the lid on how poorly supported troops have been on the front line.

"It seems like they were cornered. I can't believe they were left in that position."