After a ban on warning shots being used, a coroner concluded that a British soldier who was killed by an elephant attack during an anti-poaching operation had been ‘deprived’ of one of the most important protective measures.
Mathew Talbot, a guardman with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, was killed in an incident at Liwonde National Park, Malawi on May 5, 2019.
The Oxford Coroner’s Court concluded a week-long investigation into the death of the Walsall soldier. Monday saw evidence that warning shots against hazardous game had been prohibited under Army’s rules.
After hearing evidence, Darren Salter, senior coroner, stated that the reasons for the prohibition were’still unclear’.
After a ban on warning shots being used, a coroner concluded that a British soldier who was killed by an elephant attack during an anti-poaching operation had been ‘deprived’ of one of the most important protective measures. Mathew Talbot, a Guardsman with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards died in the attack in Liwonde National Park Malawi on May 5, 2019.
He was informed that the rules for force use had been changed and that he could now be warned about anti-poaching operations.
The 22-year old victim, from Great Barr, West Midlands suffered fatal chest and soft tissue injuries during day three of an eight-day patrol.
Guardsman Talbot was a ‘lover of the Army’ and was part of a five man mixed Malawian-British group during his first operational tour. He was attacked.
Michelle and Steve Talbot said that their son was a ‘badly letdown’ by Army planners. However, they added that if the right people had been in place, he might have survived.
A Ministry of Defence (MOD), inquest published in October 2012 and shared with the inquest. It found several failures and made 30 recommendations.
The Oxford Coroner’s Court held a week-long inquiry into the death of the Walsall-born soldier. It concluded Monday with evidence that warning shots against dangerous games had been banned under Army’s rules.
The 22-year-old victim, Great Barr, West Midlands was killed in the chest and soft tissues during day three of an 8-day patrol. Above: Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards are pictured in Malawi in April
According to the coroner, Mathew’s survival may have been possible because of the availability of a medically qualified person to insert a chest drainage to treat Guardsman Talbot.
He stated that evidence had been received about an Army risk assessment. It stated that casualties should be admitted to hospital within four hours after an incident, also known as the medical timeline.
It included an ‘overly optimistic evaluation of the capability of Land Rover’, which was to be used for moving any casualties.
According to the coroner, the ‘underestimation of the impact of an assault by dangerous games and the time it takes to move the patient by roads meant that the (medical), timeline was not possible’.
He then spoke out about three contributing causes to his death, which were also confirmed in the service inquiry. He said: “Firstly, it was known through two previous deployment patrols… elephantgrass should be avoided.
Guardsman Talbot was attacked by an African elephant that would have looked just like the one shown above (file photo).
Michelle and Steve Talbot, his parents, stated that their son was ‘badly disappointed’ by Army planners. They also suggested that if the right things had been done, he might have survived.
Guardsman Talbot suffered cardiac arrest and died four hours later.
“This should be made clearer, especially when the helicopter was not available.
‘Secondly, the wrong immediate actions to take for an elephant attack are climbing a tree and taking it in the heat.
He said, “I think, as has already been acknowledged, there should be refresher training and reinforcement about what the correct actions were when faced with an elephant attack.”
He then spoke out about the third factor, warning shots.
“I’ve heard them say they were not allowed, but those reasons don’t seem convincing.”
Mathew and his soldiers were then deprived of one of the most important protective measures.
“Warning shots were proven to be effective (on an earlier operation), but I would have thought it was something that is quite obvious.
He stated that warning shots had been effective in the aftermath, since the elephants were scared by African park rangers using guns.
Guardsman Talbot and his patrol were navigating through a six-and-a-half-foot-high elephant grass when they spotted three elephants 100 feet away
Mathew Talbot and Olivia, his girlfriend. The coroner concluded that there was initial lifesaving treatment in the field. After that, the soldier was transferred to a Land Rover and taken to the park’s gates.
Mr Salter stated: “I note that in terms of contributing causes, those three items; patrolling in elephantgrass, the wrong immediate actions and the prohibition against warning shots are essentially those three contributory factors identified by the service enquiry.
Guardsman Talbot and his patrol were navigating through a six-and-a-half-foot-high elephant grass when they spotted three elephants 100 feet away.
They tried to reverse their steps, but the soldier was hurt when an unidentified elephant charged the patrol from the side.
The British Army sergeant who commanded the group climbed a tree, but Guardsman Talbot attempted to do the same. However, the coroner discovered that Talbot was ‘caught by the charging elephant’.
Over the rough terrain, progress was slow and Guardsman Talbot died after suffering a cardiac arrest. The hospital is still two hours away. Above: Guardsman Talbot and his Malawian colleagues
Mr Salter said that the elephant’s tusks caused him to be knocked, thrown into the air, and then he was injured while lying on the ground.
The coroner concluded that the initial lifesaving treatment was ‘highly recommended’ in the field. Before the soldier was transported to a Land Rover, the vehicle set off for the park’s entrance.
However, the progress was slow on the rough terrain. Guardsman Talbot suffered cardiac arrest and died four hours later. The nearest hospital is still two hours away.
The Duke of Sussex laid a wreath at a memorial in September 2019 to honor the sacrifice of Guardsman Talbot during a visit the national park
Mr Salter stated that if Guardsman Talbot had been able to reach hospital within four hours of receiving injuries, it is probable that he would have survived.
After delivering a narrative conclusion Mr Salter stated: “It is right that we recognize the task that Mathew was engaged on.
“A task he considered very important.
‘Indeed, I was struck, and I recall the statement in which he said that it was a combination between being a soldier, and David Attenborough. That did strike a chord.
In September 2019, the Duke of Sussex paid tribute to Guardsman Talbot’s sacrifice by placing a wreath at a monument during a trip to the national parks.