A THIRD soldier taken ill during an SAS selection exercise in the Brecon Beacons has died.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed late on Tuesday, July 30 that the reservist soldier had died.

He had been in hospital, in a critical condition, since the incident on Saturday, July 13 when Lance Corporal Craig Roberts and Edward John Maher died following a 40 mile hike through the Beacons.

At least two other soldiers, who are no longer in hospital, had collapsed or fallen ill during the exercise which involved climbing Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain on what was one of the hottest days of the year - with temperatures reaching 30ºC (86ºF).

An MOD spokeswoman said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm that a third army reserve soldier injured during a training exercise in the Brecon Beacons has died of his injuries.

"The family have asked for a period of grace before he is named and request that this is respected by the media."

Powys coroner Louise Hunt opened inquests into the death of 24-year-old Lance Corporal Roberts and Mr Maher, who was 31, in Brecon last Wednesday, July 24.

The hearing was told further tests would be conducted after postmortem examinations could only give their cause of death as unascertained.

Mrs Hunt said her investigation would be conducted under article two of the Human Rights Act, which guarantees the right to life, and the state's duty to protect it.

Defence secretary Philip Hammond has also announced a full service investigation while the deaths are also being investigated by Dyfed Powys Police and the Health and Safety Executive.