Royal Marine Lance Corporal RianIlett’s tumor was found to be benign on an MRI in 2017.
A Royal Marine is facing death after a Ministry of Defence-sponsored medical trial failed to identify his brain tumour.
Lance Corporal Rian Ilett’s tumour was benign when it appeared on an MRI scan in 2017, but those leading the study into soldiers’ brains did not recognise it, it is claimed.
Two years later, he was involved in an explosion that resulted in his death. The tumour was then discovered by the Marine Allegations.
According to medical records, it had become malignant.
L/Cpl Ilett is 33 and has exceeded the optimistic life expectancy estimates.
The father of two wants to be with his twins, 13 years old, for Christmas.
An year ago, he filed legal proceedings against the MoD to claim that it may have caused his clinical negligence and condition.
But officials refused to investigate his claim or to provide documents.
Although the MoD has apologized for any delays, they have not yet provided documentation.
L/Cpl Ilett said: ‘I love the military and my comrades who have stuck by me throughout my overwhelming fight. It is my intention to continue fighting the disease for as long as possible and inspire others.
‘But it is some kind of sick joke how officials treat veterans and casualties suffering from mental and physical issues.
‘I want my case settled for my family’s sake, to give me peace of mind.’
L/Cpl Ilett was a Royal Marines soldier who joined in 2006. In 2010, he suffered concussion from a Taliban bomb blast in Afghanistan.
‘I want my case settled for my family’s sake, to give me peace of mind,’: L/Cpl Ilett joined the Royal Marines in 2006, and in 2010 suffered concussion when a Taliban bomb went off in Afghanistan
Despite evidence that brain trauma may be linked to tumours, according to his solicitors the MoD failed to carry out appropriate health checks for this incident and his ‘frequent usage of heavy/anti-tank weaponry’.
In 2017 he signed up for a study into how soldiers’ brains function in battlefield scenarios, run by the MoD’s Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and Bangor University in North Wales.
On a patient information sheet, volunteers were told: ‘If something out of the ordinary is suspected in one of your scans, we will ask a department neurologist who is a medical doctor with experience interpreting brain MRI scans and treating brain disorders to review the images with us.
‘If they think there may be a problem, we will then contact you.’
L/Cpl Ilett’s tumour appeared on his scan, it is claimed. It is not clear if the MoD took any action or not, and if a resident neurologist was hired.
He was found in another explosion while fighting with Islamic State in Middle East. This led to the revelation of his shocking mistake. For medical testing at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, he was flown to the UK.
He was scheduled to go back to war on the same day as his mother. His mother drove him from Portsmouth to Birmingham. L/Cpl Ilett were counting the hours to his departure.
Before he was shot up, Lance Corporal Rian Itt went on a secret mission in the “Middle East”
The events took a darker turn after he was told by his consultants that his scan revealed a tumour. He claims it is malignant.
The marine, whose book ‘Every day is a Battle’ details his ordeal, recalled: ‘They took the malignant chunk out but I was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer, with a life expectancy of 12 to 14 months.
‘Obviously that was a blow. The scans taken in 2017 by the researchers showed the benign tumour. They only later received them. That was hard to take.’
Representing L/Cpl Ilett, Gary Boyd at Gorvins Solicitors in Stockport, said: ‘The MoD’s failure to engage has necessitated an avoidable application to the court for an order compelling them to disclose to us important evidence. This has wasted a lot of time – a very precious commodity to L/Cpl Ilett – and delayed the peace of mind he seeks knowing his children will have some security after he has gone.’
An MoD spokesman said: ‘Due to the ongoing legal case we cannot comment on specifics, but our thoughts are with Lance Corporal Ilett and his family at this time.’