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| British soldier dies in Malawi during anti-poaching operation | British soldier dies in Malawi during anti-poaching operation |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier has died in Malawi during counter-poaching operations, the Ministry of Defence has said. | A British soldier has died in Malawi during counter-poaching operations, the Ministry of Defence has said. |
| Mathew Talbot, 22, of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, was on a patrol on 5 May when he was killed by an elephant. | Mathew Talbot, 22, of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, was on a patrol on 5 May when he was killed by an elephant. |
| His commanding officer, Lt Col Ed Launders, described Guardsman Talbot as "determined and big-hearted". | His commanding officer, Lt Col Ed Launders, described Guardsman Talbot as "determined and big-hearted". |
| Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt said he served with "great courage and professionalism" and was carrying out "vital" counter-poaching work. | Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt said he served with "great courage and professionalism" and was carrying out "vital" counter-poaching work. |
| She added: "This tragic incident is a reminder of the danger our military faces as they protect some of the world's most endangered species from those who seek to profit from the criminal slaughter of wildlife." | She added: "This tragic incident is a reminder of the danger our military faces as they protect some of the world's most endangered species from those who seek to profit from the criminal slaughter of wildlife." |
| Gdsm Talbot, who was from the West Midlands, was serving in his first operational deployment, the MoD said. | Gdsm Talbot, who was from the West Midlands, was serving in his first operational deployment, the MoD said. |
| He was killed in Liwonde National Park, in the south of Malawi. | He was killed in Liwonde National Park, in the south of Malawi. |
| He leaves behind his father Steven, his mother Michelle, his sisters Aimee and Isabel, and his girlfriend, Olivia. | He leaves behind his father Steven, his mother Michelle, his sisters Aimee and Isabel, and his girlfriend, Olivia. |
| In a statement, the MoD said Gdsm Talbot "was not unfamiliar" with Africa and had volunteered to support counter-poaching in Malawi. | In a statement, the MoD said Gdsm Talbot "was not unfamiliar" with Africa and had volunteered to support counter-poaching in Malawi. |
| "With his keen interest in military history he was proud to have joined a regiment with such a rich and long lineage," it added. | "With his keen interest in military history he was proud to have joined a regiment with such a rich and long lineage," it added. |
| Operation Corded, the name given to the Army's counter-poaching deployment in Malawi, assists in the training of rangers in a bid to help them crack down on the illegal wildlife trade. | |
| Park rangers are taught skills such as tracking, partnered patrolling, communications, surveillance, and intelligence-sharing - with the first deployment taking place in August 2017. | |
| The former defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, announced the expansion of the UK's counter-poaching training at two parks in Malawi - doubling the number of rangers mentored by soldiers to 120 - in 2018. | The former defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, announced the expansion of the UK's counter-poaching training at two parks in Malawi - doubling the number of rangers mentored by soldiers to 120 - in 2018. |
| Gdsm Talbot's company commander, Maj Richard Wright, said that while he had only known the soldier for a short time, "he never failed to make me smile". | Gdsm Talbot's company commander, Maj Richard Wright, said that while he had only known the soldier for a short time, "he never failed to make me smile". |
| Lt Col Launders added: "Mathew was loved by his brothers in arms in the Coldstream Guards. We will sorely miss his humour, selflessness and unbeatable spirit." | Lt Col Launders added: "Mathew was loved by his brothers in arms in the Coldstream Guards. We will sorely miss his humour, selflessness and unbeatable spirit." |
| Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith described the death as "tragic news". | Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith described the death as "tragic news". |
| She added: "It underlines the dedication and selflessness of our armed forces personnel serving across the world. | She added: "It underlines the dedication and selflessness of our armed forces personnel serving across the world. |
| "My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time." | "My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time." |
| A British soldier on fighting poachers in Malawi | A British soldier on fighting poachers in Malawi |
| The appearance of two British Army 4x4s in Malawi's Majete Wildlife Reserve turns heads as they leave the villages and make their way into the bush. | The appearance of two British Army 4x4s in Malawi's Majete Wildlife Reserve turns heads as they leave the villages and make their way into the bush. |
| L/Cpl Chad Spalding is one of the British soldiers on board, trying to help stop poaching. | L/Cpl Chad Spalding is one of the British soldiers on board, trying to help stop poaching. |
| He is about to spend the next few days with local rangers Boston Phiri, who is pretty new to the job, and Retief Chomali, who has 10 years' experience. | He is about to spend the next few days with local rangers Boston Phiri, who is pretty new to the job, and Retief Chomali, who has 10 years' experience. |
| "Most of the time you're concentrating on the environment itself," he says. "You're constantly looking, watching dangerous game, anything that might sneak up on you." | "Most of the time you're concentrating on the environment itself," he says. "You're constantly looking, watching dangerous game, anything that might sneak up on you." |
| Read more about Chad's experience here. | Read more about Chad's experience here. |