A Royal Artillery officer has been shot dead during a night-time training exercise at a military range where another soldier was killed in similar circumstances eight years ago.
Captain Philip Gilbert Muldowney, 25, died on Sunday evening after being struck during a live-firing drill at Otterburn range in Northumberland. The incident occurred at around 8pm, just minutes into the tactical training exercise.
According to a source who spoke to The Sun, the fatal shot was fired in pitch-black conditions as troops wearing night vision goggles assaulted targets with SA80 assault rifles. “He got shot just a couple of minutes into the training exercise. He died before the ambulance got there,” the source said.
The group of eight soldiers had been split into two squads, with one charging forward in an assault role whilst the other provided covering fire. All personnel involved carried live ammunition.
“There were 6-8 people firing at that point,” the source added. “We were at the rear when he was shot at a fair distance.”
Capt Muldowney, known as Gilbert, was serving as a Fire Support Team Commander with 4th Regiment Royal Artillery. Despite wearing bullet-proof Virtus body armour and a protective kevlar helmet, he was hit in an area not protected by the equipment. Comrades provided emergency first aid but he died before the ambulance arrived.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the tragedy in a statement. “It is with deep sadness that we confirm the death of Captain Philip Gilbert Muldowney of 4th Regiment Royal Artillery on 25th January 2026,” the MoD said. “Our thoughts are with Captain Muldowney’s family and friends at this sad time.”
Lt Col Henry Waller, his commanding officer, paid tribute to the fallen officer. “Gilbert was an outstanding officer who consistently put his soldiers first. He led from the front in all that he did, a quality that defined his character. His leadership, courage, and sense of duty earned him the respect and admiration of all who served alongside him.”
Capt Helen Brackenbury, a comrade, described him as “a truly kind person, highly competent and endearingly joyful.”
“He served all those under his command in a highly authentic manner, unapologetically himself – everyday he displayed a level of spirit I continue to be in awe of,” she said. “It has been the pleasure of my career to have served alongside him, and I consider myself very lucky to have been his friend.”
Capt Muldowney joined the Army in 2020 and trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before joining 4th Regiment Royal Artillery. He had defended Nato’s eastern flank as part of Operation Cabrit in Estonia and trained to pass the Commando Course.
The Defence Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation into the incident.
The tragedy marks the second fatal shooting at Otterburn during a night live-firing exercise. In 2016, Private Conor McPherson, 24, of the Black Watch regiment, was shot in the head and killed at the same training camp.
The Ministry of Defence was criticised by the Health and Safety Executive in 2024. Lt Gen Dame Sharon Nesmith, who was deputy chief of the general staff at the time of the earlier incident, said she was “deeply sorry for failing Pte Conor McPherson.”
During Sunday’s exercise, troops wore night vision goggles and assaulted pop-up targets with SA80 assault rifles. The metal and wooden targets are designed to drop down when hit by live ammunition. Soldiers normally wear infra-red patches visible through night vision goggles to distinguish them from human-shaped targets.
A source told The Sun that all soldiers involved had been trained on the weapons. “We have all been trained on how to use these guns. It is the most common one,” the source said.
