On September 17, during live-fire exercises of the 1st Tank Battalion at the training ground in Świętoszów, one of the participating Leopard 2A4 tanks caught fire. As a result, the tank’s crew—four soldiers of the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade from Świętoszów—sustained injuries.
The injured soldiers received immediate medical assistance and were transported to specialist hospitals, where they remain under professional medical care.
As a result of injuries sustained in the accident, Private Michał Pawlicha—a soldier of the 3rd Tank Company serving in the 1st Tank Battalion of the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade—died at 4 a.m. today at the Eastern Centre for Burn Treatment and Reconstructive Surgery in Łęczna near Lublin.
The deceased soldier had served in the military since 2012. He was 23 years old.
The deceased’s family has been provided with psychological support by military representatives. The brigade’s soldiers will support them in the same way that the families of other soldiers who have died or been killed while performing their official duties are supported.
The investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Military Garrison Prosecutor’s Office in Wrocław. Procedural activities are being carried out to clarify the circumstances of the incident.
The expert opinion will be decisive in this case; the experts’ task is to clarify all matters related to the accident.