The Australian Defence Force says it has "no intent" to reopen a training tunnel outside Wagga where an Army recruit suffered fatal injuries in 2019.
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NSW Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee found this week that Private Liam Wolf, aged 18 from Queensland, suffered a medical episode while climbing down a ladder to access an underground tunnel at Kapooka Army base.
Mr Lee found it was most likely that PTE Wolf had a pre-existing heart condition that triggered an irregular heartbeat while on the obstacle course, leading him to let go of the ladder and fall four metres into a water-filled tunnel.
PTE Wolf died two days after the incident in a Sydney hospital on April 23, 2019 from blunt force trauma to the head, cardiac arrest and a brain injury from lack of oxygen as a result of the fall.
Mr Lee could not determine that the Defence took all reasonable safety precautions for that section of the obstacle course, which had a unique combination of an underground section and water.
"Defence can confirm that the tunnel system, where the incident occurred, remains closed and has not been used since PTE Wolf's death," a Defence spokesperson said.
"There is no intent to reopen this tunnel."
Mr Lee stated that PTE Wolf "died in honourable service to his nation" and found there was no way for the Army to have detected his heart condition during his weeks of recruit training.
"Defence extends its sympathies to Private Liam Wolf's family and friends. His death was deeply felt across Army and its community," a Defence spokesperson said.
"Defence has been supporting Private Wolf's family, other recruits and staff members affected by the incident. Defence will continue to make this support available."
Mr Lee made four recommendations as a result of the inquest, including that Defence consider using electrocardiograms (ECG) to screen recruits for signs of a heart condition.
Defence was also recommended to complete a risk assessment of every component of the obstacle course at the Army Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka.
If the underground tunnel is ever used again, Mr Lee recommenced that Defence research modifications to allow water to be drained and injured recruits to be rapidly extracted.
"Defence will now consider the recommendations in detail. As such, it is not appropriate to comment further," a Defence spokesperson said.
"Defence thanks the Deputy Coroner for his considered views and deliberations in relation to this inquest."
Attempts to contact PTE Wolf's immediate family to offer the opportunity to comment were not successful.
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