The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been issued with a Crown Censure by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a Royal Marine recruit died during a routine training exercise.

On 21 January 2020, Royal Marine recruit Ethan Jones from Midsomer Norton drowned while taking part in a training exercise involving a night beach landing at Tregantle Beach, Cornwall.

As the final part of their training, the recruits took part in an exercise which included disembarking from a landing craft into the sea and wading to shore. The depth of the water was deeper than anticipated and a number of recruits were submerged and had to be rescued. Recruit Ethan Jones was found floating next to the landing craft. Although he was recovered from the water and transported by air to hospital, he tragically died three days later.

HSE found the MoD failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, failed to properly plan, failed to properly supervise, and therefore failed to ensure the safety of their employees during what should have been a routine training exercise.

By accepting the Crown Censure, the MoD admitted breaching its duty under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

At his local funeral in February 2020 it was revealed that Ethan had nearly finished his thirty-two weeks of training and according to Major Ian McGill, commanding officer of Portsmouth Company: "As he approached the final weeks of training he was awarded the Commando medal - nominated by his peers in a closed ballot as the individual who best personifies the Commando spirit."

HSE inspector Emma O'Hara said: "This was a very serious incident which has resulted in the death of a young Royal Marine recruit at the start of his military career.

"Just like any other employer, the MoD has a responsibility to take all reasonably practicable steps to control the risks to the safety of its employees. In this case they have failed to do so. 

"HSE fully recognises the importance of properly managed realistic military training but this does not mean the training itself should expose recruits to uncontrolled or inadequately controlled hazards. HSE expects training exercises to be properly planned and managed through suitable and sufficient risk assessments and safe systems of work."