Probe into sailors' deaths on nuclear submarine

An investigation went underway yesterday into the deaths of two British soldiers who were killed in an accident on a nuclear-powered submarine on exercise in the Arctic, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

Another submariner was hurt in the accident on board HMS Tireless and airlifted to a US military hospital with his injuries described as not life-threatening.

The ministry said the nuclear reactor on board Tireless, a hunter-killer sub, which does not carry nuclear weapons, was not affected. The submarine "quickly surfaced and is completely safe", the MoD said in a statement.

Initial investigations indicated that the accident aboard the hunter-killer submarine involved a piece of air purification equipment in its forward section. It caused only superficial damage.

"I very much regret that this incident has occurred and my thoughts go out to the family and friends of the men who have lost their lives," said Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent.

"I also wish to pay tribute to the crew of HMS Tireless that this incident has been dealt with and contained so professionally." Tireless was taking part in an Anglo-American exercise and was submerged under the ice cap at the time of the accident.