A CORONER is expected to return verdicts today on three Army reservists who died after collapsing during a 16-mile SAS test march including one from Wiltshire.

A 20-day inquest in Solihull, West Midlands, last month was told that all three soldiers fell victim to heatstroke on the Brecon Beacons on July 13, 2013.

Corporal James Dunsby, from Trowbridge, who was a reservist with Swindon-based A Squadron The Royal Yeomanry, died at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital from multiple organ failure more than two weeks after the march.

Lance Corporal Edward Maher, from Winchester, and Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, originally from Penrhyn Bay in North Wales, were pronounced dead on the hills.

Up to seven other candidates attempting selection for reserve special forces units were also treated for the effects of heat, including four who were taken to hospital.

The inquest heard that 37 reservists took part in the march alongside 41 regular soldiers trying to gain entry to a special forces signals regiment.

The senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, Louise Hunt, is expected to give her verdicts today.

Speaking ahead of the verdicts, Cpl Dunsby's father said he believed "the system" in place to care for casualties had failed his son.

The inquest, which heard evidence from march staff, candidates and senior officers, including the former head of UK Special Forces, was told that Cpl Dunsby collapsed near a main road amid "heatwave" conditions.

David Dunsby claims he was given "misinformation" in the days after the march which gave him false hope that medical help arrived quickly.

In an interview with ITV News at the site where his son died, Mr Dunsby, 58, said: "The system failed and that's what killed my son.

"There should be somebody there to help them and we know on the day there wasn't. That system let me down as a father and let my son down."

Claiming the Army was fortunate that more soldiers had not died, Mr Dunsby said: "I would just wish somebody at a certain level would just come to me and say... 'We are making changes, we understand things went wrong on the day'.

"As long as they make changes so it won't happen, that's all we want.

"Nothing can bring James back but we need to make sure that there are things in place that will protect all the other soldiers who will be doing the same thing.

"I don't blame any particular person, I blame the system and the system failed."

The 58-year-old described the events of two years ago as being "like a domino effect" which the emergency services could not cope with.

"The Army medical staff here couldn't cope," he said. "It was just too big. They were lucky it wasn't more than just the three. It could've been six or seven."

Mr Dunsby said he hoped to be able to move on following the verdicts, adding: I don't want drastic changes, I just want some safety measures put in place so other parents and wives don't suffer."

In a statement read to the inquest by his barrister on June 25, Mr Dunsby claimed "misinformation" supplied to him shortly after his son's collapse had given his family hope that he was not alone for very long before being treated.

His statement added: "I now know that this was a complete fabrication and that he was on the hill for 90 minutes before any help got to him."

An inquest into the deaths of three reservists during a 2013 SAS test march heard that "direct civilian entry" students can attempt to join one of two SAS Reserve regiments.

Around half of the part-time soldiers who took part in the march had no previous military experience before opting to try out for the SAS.

Here are 10 facts about the reserve units and SAS test week

1. Terms borrowed from horse racing are used by soldiers during the gruelling Aptitude phase of Special Forces training - with "race-day" candidates referred to as "runners", and those who drop out as "non-runners".

2. March routes laid out for SAS students are measured as the crow flies and take in often impassable terrain, meaning soldiers typically cover far more ground than the official length listed by commanders.

3. The regular SAS unit has first pick of march routes during test week, usually held in either January or July, near the end of twice-yearly courses.

4. Army Reserve hopefuls attempting selection for either 21 or 23 SAS(R) - which recruit in different areas of the UK - join test marches alongside regular soldiers hoping to gain entry to a Special Forces Signals regiment.

5. Candidates who fail to meet march cut-off times but complete routes can "take a red card" and continue on the next test march. A second red card means candidates are "off the course" for good.

6. There are two methods of withdrawing from a test march. A soldier can voluntarily withdraw (known as a VW) or be medically withdrawn by march directing staff. If a candidate withdraws himself he is not allowed to re-attempt special forces selection on future courses but those who are medically withdrawn can have a second stab at joining one of the three SAS regiments. Students can also be shown the door for "unsafe behaviour" on the hills.

7. A rock-strewn stretch of the Brecon course on the approach to Beacons Reservoir, which reduces candidates to moving on their hands and knees, is known in special forces circles as "VW Valley" because of its high drop-out rate.

8. Formed in 1947 and 1959 respectively, 21 and 23 SAS(R) accept male applicants aged 18-32 who have no previous military service.

9. SAS Reserve selection has two parts - a "progressively arduous" Aptitude phase, and, for those who pass, intensive Continuation training on Special Forces tactics, techniques and procedures.

10. According to the Army's official website, the starting daily rate for anyone tough enough to become a fully badged SAS(R) Trooper is £103.