'Exceptional' British paratrooper, 28, was killed by an explosion in Ukraine, coroner reveals after inquest held in secret

A British paratrooper was killed by an explosion in Ukraine while helping troops in the war with Russia, a coroner has ruled. Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, of the Parachute Regiment, died while observing the testing of a new defensive capability in the war-torn country last December.After an inquest conducted partly in secret this week, senior coroner for Oxfordshire Darren Salter revealed for the first time that the high-achieving soldier had died from injuries sustained in an explosion.The location of the incident has been kept under wraps, other than it was away from the front line.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said that limited numbers of Armed Forces personnel are being deployed to Ukraine, to provide security for the British diplomatic presence and support the Ukrainian armed forces. However, the presence of paratroopers in Ukraine was not publicly known prior to L/Cpl Hooley's death. Last week, the coroner rejected a media request for a public hearing of the inquest, and on Tuesday this week he reached his conclusion on his own in private.'On the early morning of December 6, 2025 [L/Cpl George Hooley] sustained multiple injuries from an explosion while observing Ukrainian Forces test a new defensive capability away from the front line,' he recorded in the Record of Inquest. Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, of the Parachute Regiment died while watching a test of a new defensive capability on December 9, away from the front lines of Russia's invasion Lance Corporal Hooley's body was repatriated on December 17 at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire'He received prompt emergency medical treatment at the scene and subsequently underwent surgery but died from his injuries in hospital in Kiev on 9/12/25.'The coroner said he had been provided with only 'limited evidence' about the circumstances and cause of the explosion, but did not elaborate on what that evidence was.The MoD did not respond to questions about the fatal explosion, including whether the cause had been determined and if anyone had been held responsible.Mr Salter said he received statements from L/Cpl Hooley's Army colleagues and British Army doctors, and had also been provided with 'Ukrainian documents' which set out that the soldier had been treated in at least two hospitals, including one in Kyiv.He added that he found there were 'no suspicious circumstances'.When rejecting a request for a public hearing, the coroner said L/Cpl Hooley's family 'made a specific request for his inquest to be conducted in writing' which he agreed to.He added that unnamed interested parties had also been consulted and agreed to an inquest behind closed doors.'Adequate information has been obtained to answer the four statutory questions,' he said.'Information about the precise nature of the defensive capability being tested is sensitive and would not be disclosed during an inquest.'He called the death 'sadly straightforward', and insisted that the public interest would be served by the provision of documents after the hearing had taken place. After his death, the MoD described it as a 'tragic accident' and issued tributes for L/Cpl Hooley who had joined the Army in November 2015, and was an 'exceptional soldier' on the verge of being promoted to Corporal.His company commander called him 'model of professionalism', adding: 'George didn't just do his job, he excelled at it.'A born soldier, he set the standard – the other soldiers watched to learn how things should be done, he made us all better, individually and collectively.'He approached every task with dedication, integrity and pride.'His colleagues will tell you that he wasn't just part of the team, he was the character within it. The glue. The laughter. The calm voice of sense. The soldier who made the hard days easy and the good days memorable.' Following his death, the Ministry of Defence published a poignant last message that L/Cpl Hooley left to his family.It read: 'If you are reading this, it means I didn't make it home. Please don't let that be the thing that breaks you.'You know I was doing what I believed in as well as loved, with people I respected, and for reasons that matter to me, my country and democracy and freedom in this world.'I was proud of what I was doing. Don't remember me with sadness and loss. Be proud.'I went out doing what I trained to do, what I chose to do, and I had all of you in my heart the whole way.' The Ministry of Defence released an extract of Lance Corporal Hooley's final message to his familyFormer Prime Minister Keir Starmer also paid tribute to L/Cpl Hooley when news of his death emerged.He said: 'Lance Corporal Hooley was injured in a tragic accident away from the front lines while observing Ukrainian forces testing a new defensive capability.'His life was full of courage and determination. He served our country with honour and distinction around the world in the cause of freedom and democracy, including as part of the small number of British personnel in Ukraine.'The Parachute Regiment is an airborne infantry regiment in the British Army, primarily based at Merville Barracks in Colchester.It has not been revealed which battalion in the regiment Lance Corporal Hooley served in.The 1st Battalion is under the direction of special forces while other battalions are part of the British Army's rapid response formation. The 28-year-old joined the army eleven years ago in November 2015.He went on to complete the well-renowned Pre-Parachute Selection Course and emerged as the 'P Company Champion', top of his cohort at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick.After he joined the Parachute Regiment, he quickly completed a promotional course, achieving distinction in both the Parachute Regiment’s Junior Non-Commissioned Officers’ course and Section Commanders’ Battle course.He was previously deployed in Afghanistan, Africa and Eastern Europe.The inquest was conducted 'in writing' under a process which was introduced in 2022.The MoD indicated that unanswered questions from the inquest should be directed to the coroner.