George Hooley: British paratrooper died in Ukraine equipment test, coroner rules

What happened to George Hooley?

A British paratrooper died from multiple injuries after an explosion during a military equipment test in Ukraine, a coroner has ruled.

Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, is the first British service member known to have died in the country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The senior coroner for Oxfordshire, Darren Salter, ruled this week that Hooley's death was "not suspicious", despite having received only "limited evidence" about the circumstances of the blast. The inquest was conducted partly in secret, reflecting the sensitive nature of British military activity in the country.

Where did the explosion occur?

Hooley, who was from Wallingford in Oxfordshire, was injured on 6 December 2025. He was transferred between at least two hospitals before dying in Kyiv three days later, on 9 December. The exact location of the explosion has not been disclosed, beyond the fact that it occurred away from the active front line.

The Ministry of Defence previously described the incident as a "tragic accident" that occurred while Hooley was "observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability". The ministry has declined to comment further on the specific circumstances of the explosion or what kind of equipment was being tested.

Who was the paratrooper?

Hooley joined the Parachute Regiment in June 2016 after completing his training at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

His company commander paid tribute to him, describing the paratrooper as a "born soldier" who had "a rare gift: a deep kindness and genuine time for everyone." The Ministry of Defence called him "an exceptional soldier and an impressive junior leader with extensive operational experience."

While the British government has never revealed how many of its service personnel are deployed inside Ukraine, it has previously acknowledged that a small number are there. Their official roles are limited to supporting the Ukrainian armed forces and providing security for British diplomatic staff.