TV show to highlight the failings that killed hero Mark

Published on Friday 20 August 2010 13:56

THE death of war hero Corporal Mark Wright is set to be dramatised in a TV documentary as his family complain that lessons have still not been learned from the tragedy.

The Para, who died after being injured in a minefield in Afghanistan in 2006, is to be featured in the Discovery Channel series George Cross Heroes, based on a book of the same name by deputy Tory chairman Lord Ashcroft.

The programme is being made to tie in with the opening of a new gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London, featuring Lord Ashcroft's extensive collection of George Crosses and Victoria Crosses.

Cpl Wright's father Bob travelled to London to be interviewed for the documentary, which is likely to include a dramatised account of the circumstances surrounding his son's death.

Mr Wright and wife Jem now run The Mark Wright Project, a charity offering social, emotional and practical support for returning troops, close to their home in Dalkeith.

He said: "I went down for an interview. They wanted four recipients of the George Cross and Mark was one of them. Talking about it was emotional. It never gets any easier."

He hopes the documentary, due to be screened later this year or early next year, will highlight the family's concerns over lack of equipment, which were also stressed by the coroner at Cpl Wright's inquest.

Cpl Wright died after he was injured in a minefield in Helmand province. He had called for a helicopter with a rescue winch to evacuate another injured soldier, but none was available. Instead a Chinook helicopter arrived, which had such a fierce downdraft that it is thought to have blown a mine into the air, striking Cpl Wright in the chest. He died three hours later.

At the inquest, coroner Andrew Walker blamed Cpl Wright's death on lack of equipment and said MoD bosses should "hang their heads in shame".

Mr Wright said that, although he knew his wife Jem would find the programme too traumatic to watch, he was backing it, because he hoped it would carry an important message. "I think what they're emphasising is the lack of helicopters and it's still the same, nothing's changed from the day of the inquest. They said lessons had to be learned, but they haven't.

"I'm in touch with people who are going out there still, and it hasn't changed.

"The deaths still continue, and I think putting it to a wider audience will help. It's important that everybody will know what happened - to tell people how brave Mark was, but also to tell everyone why he died."

An army spokeswoman said the army was very proud of Cpl Wright's courage, but insisted troops did have sufficient equipment: "It's not a problem, everybody's got what they need. You might not get a British helicopter, you'll get a coalition helicopter because we're working as a team. Everybody would like infinite resources but we're not going to get them.

"The people who receive any honours and awards are the epitome of the standards that the British Army instill in people - selfless commitment and courage, and everyone is grateful for everything they've done. It's a shame this one was posthumous - but his parents must be incredibly proud of him."