Training, leadership at fault in Digger's death

A DEFENCE inquiry has found deficient training, assessment, certification and leadership contributed to the death of Lieutenant Michael Fussell while he was serving in Afghanistan.

Lt Fussell, 25, from Armidale, NSW, was a member of the Sydney-based 4RAR Commando Battalion when he stepped on an improvised explosive device that killed him on November 27, 2008.

But a defence inquiry into the incident, released today, found that was not the sole cause of his death.

"Deficient training, assessment, certification and consequently leadership of Force Element operated to increase the risk that such a casualty might occur," a report by Vice Admiral Christopher Ritchie said.

"Therefore, those deficiencies materially contributed to the death of Lieutenant Fussell."