iain
15th April 2003, 05:38 AM
A BBC article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2948747.stm) reports how a story which spread around the world about a British Marine having a "miracle escape" after being shot in the head (his helmet stopping the bullets) turns out to be untrue.
What I find interesting about this is that the story would have been easy for any motivated journalist to verify : just ask the guy. It seems that no one bothered - maybe it suited them to jump to conclusions. Doubtless many "experts" were pulled in to give their opinions on how this guy survived.
Three weeks ago it was reported that commando Eric Walderman escaped death by an inch after four bullets lodged in his helmet when he was fired on by Iraqi forces in the port of Umm Qsar.
But it has emerged the holes in the helmet were caused by Mr Walderman's fellow marines, part of the 40 Commando's Alpha Company, based at Taunton, Somerset.
They hit the helmet which was lying on top of a pack as they tried to detonate an unexploded anti-tank weapon.
What I find interesting about this is that the story would have been easy for any motivated journalist to verify : just ask the guy. It seems that no one bothered - maybe it suited them to jump to conclusions. Doubtless many "experts" were pulled in to give their opinions on how this guy survived.
Three weeks ago it was reported that commando Eric Walderman escaped death by an inch after four bullets lodged in his helmet when he was fired on by Iraqi forces in the port of Umm Qsar.
But it has emerged the holes in the helmet were caused by Mr Walderman's fellow marines, part of the 40 Commando's Alpha Company, based at Taunton, Somerset.
They hit the helmet which was lying on top of a pack as they tried to detonate an unexploded anti-tank weapon.