The British Army recruit suddenly collapsed and died during a fitness test – as a devastated family shared their heartbreak

EMOTIONAL tributes to a British Army recruit who suddenly collapsed and died during a fitness test.

Youngson Nkhoma, 30, was attempting a timed two-kilometer run for the Army when he fell to the ground 200 meters from the finish line.

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Youngson Nkhoma died after collapsing during a fitness test for the British ArmyCredit: Champion News

The father of one child was hospitalized by the Assessment Center in Lichfield, Staffs, but tragically died that evening of catastrophic organ failure.

His family, who said their “whole world changed after his death”, is now suing the MoD and commercial recruitment partner Capita Business Services Ltd for over £200,000 in compensation.

Youngson, from Malawi, applied to join the British Army in November 2019 as part of a recruitment drive.

A spokesman for his family said at the time: “Youngson had been chatting about the Army for a long time and was thrilled to be invited to the selection process.

“When he collapsed just before the finish line it was a huge shock but not for a minute did we expect to find out he had died.

“In that moment, our whole world changed and the sadness was overwhelming.

“The loss of Youngson at such a young age was downright traumatic and something we will never get over, but we are grateful that the inquiry has at least provided us with some answers.

“We just hope no one else has to go through what we have; we wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone.”

A coroner’s examination after the deaths of Youngson and another recruit revealed that they both had sickle cell traits.

It is an inherited condition that is more common in people of certain genetic backgrounds, including those of African heritage.

The condition can cause the body to collapse fatally if triggered by overexertion or strenuous exercise, especially in extreme temperatures.

Muscles begin to break down, releasing fibers into the bloodstream that clog vital organs in a deadly process known as rhabdomyolysis.

In 2021, the Defense Security Agency conducted an inquest into the deaths and collapses of several other Commonwealth Army hopefuls who survived.

It found that there had been shortcomings in the selection process and the provision of health and safety equipment on the test days.

As a result of the coroner’s findings, the Department of Defense now routinely screens recruits for sickle cell traits with blood tests.

In documents now filed with the High Court, Irwin Mitchell, solicitor for widow Latia Nkhoma, said: “The claim arises after an accident that occurred on 27 November 2019 at the Army Assessment Center in Lichfield.

“The deceased, a Malawian national who had applied to the British Army through the Commonwealth Recruitment Initiative, completed the physical examination phase of the recruitment process, which consisted of a 2km run.

“As the deceased approached the finish line, he collapsed and was hospitalized, but died in the evening.

“The cause of death was later determined to be multiple organ failure, exertional rhabdomyolysis, sickle cell anemia, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

“The plaintiff alleges that the first and second defendants were negligent or breached their duty of care through the acts or omissions of their employees, agents or agents, and therefore is bound to compensate the plaintiff for the injuries and losses suffered.”

The High Court put the value of the widow’s claim at over £200,000.