Oxygen emergency device blamed for submarine blast

An explosion onboard a nuclear submarine, which killed two British sailors, was caused by an emergency oxygen device, it has been confirmed.

The incident happened early on Wednesday morning onboard the HMS Tireless, which was on exercise in the Arctic.

Two members of the crew were killed. They have been named as Anthony Huntrod, 20, from Sunderland and Paul McCann, 32, from Halesowen in the West Midlands.

A third sailor was injured. He was airlifted to a US military hospital, but his injuries are not life-threatening and he is expected to make a full recovery.

HMS Tireless was taking part in a joint US/UK exercise and was submerged under the ice cap at the time of the incident.

A statement released by the MoD said: "At this early stage, it is thought that the accident involved a piece of air-purification equipment in the forward section of the submarine.

"The submarine was never in any danger, its nuclear reactor was unaffected, it quickly surfaced and is completely safe. Tireless is a hunter-killer submarine and does not carry nuclear missiles."

HMS Tireless was launched in 1985, but the piece of air-purification machinery thought to have failed was fitted as part of an update in 2001. The piece of equipment which malfunctioned is fitted to all Trafalgar Class submarines, the MoD said, and it has a good safety record. However, as a precaution, its use on other boats has been restricted until safety checks can be carried out. It is not essential to the safe running of the submarine.

Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent, Commander-In-Chief Fleet, said: "I very much regret that this incident has occurred and my thoughts go out to the family and friends of the men who have lost their lives."

(KMcA/JM)