A soldier who shot a comrade during a live-training exercise could not see in the dark, an inquest heard.
Private Conor McPherson was taking part in a night time training exercise in Northumberland when he was hit by the bullet from another soldier.
An inquest heard the 24-year-old was serving with A Company, 3 Scots - The Black Watch, and was taking part in the exercise at Otterburn Training Area at the time.
The group was moving toward a rigid target at the training ground when a weapon was discharged and Private McPherson fell to the ground.
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An inquest at Northumberland Coroner's Court heard a soldier had fallen behind the rest of the group after slipping during the exercise in 2016.
The court heard the soldier caught up with the rest of the group who were advancing down the range and were told to engage the second target.
Jurors were told a shot was fired and Private McPherson then hit the ground.
He told the court he believed Private McPherson was to his left before adding: "Then it was the safety behind me who went stop. I thought it was part of the scenario of the range."
The soldier said they made their way off the range and was unaware of what had happened.
The soldier, who was wearing HMNV night-vision goggles, told the court he couldn't see Private McPherson or the target because "it was pitch black".
A safety supervisor was following the firing team as they travelled through the range and moved toward the soldier who had fallen behind.
He said: "When I got to him, I knew straightaway he could be in an unsafe position and said 'move forward, move forward'."
It was then Private McPherson dropped to the ground, the court heard.
He added: "I just seen a bit of movement to the left.
"It was a split second. I seen him going down and normally when a person goes down they spring back up, but I never seen any movement from him.
"Straightaway I called stop as I was moving toward him."
Despite resuscitation attempts, Private McPherson was pronounced dead at the scene.
The court heard another soldier who was taking part in the exercise was having trouble identifying the targets and was told not to fire.
The targets had not been fitted with thermal tape, but this would not hinder the soldiers from identifying them through their night-vision goggles, the court was told.
The inquest continues.
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