Corporal had heart condition.

Byline: HILARY DUNCANSON reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk

A SCOTS soldier's death during an Army fitness test was caused by an undetected heart condition, an inquiry has concluded.

Corporal Josh Hoole, 26, of The Rifles, died in July last year after collapsing during training for the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course.

A probe has now concluded his death was an "unforeseen tragedy" and the cause was "within the definition of sudden arrhythmogenic death syndrome (SADS)".

An MoD inquiry panel found Josh himself would not have known of his susceptibility to SADS and therefore it was reasonable for the Army not to have known about the problem.

The training session he was doing in Brecon, Wales, was described as "both mentally and physically demanding" on a day when temperatures hit 30C (86F).

Josh, from Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, had been due to marry this year.

In the inquiry report, Lieutenant General Richard Felton said: "Cpl Hoole was a physically fit, determined and capable infantry soldier.

"The loss of such a gifted and promising soldier was an unexpected tragedy."

CAPTION(S):

OMISING Josh Hoole