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| Soldier died on last day of tour | Soldier died on last day of tour |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier was killed as he tried to defuse a roadside bomb on the last day of his deployment to Afghanistan, it has emerged. | A British soldier was killed as he tried to defuse a roadside bomb on the last day of his deployment to Afghanistan, it has emerged. |
| Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid, 30, from Winchester, was serving in the Royal Logistic Corps when he died on Saturday near Sangin in Helmand province. | |
| His wife, Christina Schmid, said he was her "soulmate" and she took comfort knowing he had saved "countless lives". | His wife, Christina Schmid, said he was her "soulmate" and she took comfort knowing he had saved "countless lives". |
| A total of 224 UK military personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001. | |
| 'Phenomenal husband' | 'Phenomenal husband' |
| Staff Sgt Schmid, who had been in the Army for 13 years, had been commanding a bomb disposal team who were dealing with a confirmed roadside bomb. | Staff Sgt Schmid, who had been in the Army for 13 years, had been commanding a bomb disposal team who were dealing with a confirmed roadside bomb. |
| He was killed when the device initiated as he was defusing it. | He was killed when the device initiated as he was defusing it. |
| Since his tour in Afghanistan began in June, he was responsible for making safe 64 roadside bombs. | Since his tour in Afghanistan began in June, he was responsible for making safe 64 roadside bombs. |
| Staff Sgt Schmid, born in Cornwall, lived in Winchester with his five-year-old stepson and wife, Christina. | Staff Sgt Schmid, born in Cornwall, lived in Winchester with his five-year-old stepson and wife, Christina. |
| His courage was not displayed in a fleeting moment of time; he stared death in the face on a daily basis Lt Col Gareth Bex | His courage was not displayed in a fleeting moment of time; he stared death in the face on a daily basis Lt Col Gareth Bex |
| She said: "Oz was a phenomenal husband and loving father who was cruelly murdered on his last day of a relentless five-month tour. | She said: "Oz was a phenomenal husband and loving father who was cruelly murdered on his last day of a relentless five-month tour. |
| "The pain of losing him is overwhelming. I take comfort knowing he saved countless lives with his hard work." | "The pain of losing him is overwhelming. I take comfort knowing he saved countless lives with his hard work." |
| Lt Col Robert Thomson, commanding officer of 2 Rifles Battle Group, said: "Staff Sgt Oz Schmid was simply the bravest and most courageous man I have ever met. | Lt Col Robert Thomson, commanding officer of 2 Rifles Battle Group, said: "Staff Sgt Oz Schmid was simply the bravest and most courageous man I have ever met. |
| "No matter how difficult or lethal the task which lay in front of us, he was the man who only saw solutions. | "No matter how difficult or lethal the task which lay in front of us, he was the man who only saw solutions. |
| "He saved lives in 2 Rifles time after time and for that he will retain a very special place in every heart of every rifleman in our extraordinary battle group." | "He saved lives in 2 Rifles time after time and for that he will retain a very special place in every heart of every rifleman in our extraordinary battle group." |
| Lt Col Gareth Bex, commanding officer of the counter IED (improvised explosive devices) task force, said Staff Sgt Schmid had been a "legend". | Lt Col Gareth Bex, commanding officer of the counter IED (improvised explosive devices) task force, said Staff Sgt Schmid had been a "legend". |
| "His courage was not displayed in a fleeting moment of time - he stared death in the face on a daily basis. | "His courage was not displayed in a fleeting moment of time - he stared death in the face on a daily basis. |
| "Many soldiers and ordinary Afghans owe their lives to Staff Sgt Schmid's gallant actions and his sacrifice will never be forgotten." | "Many soldiers and ordinary Afghans owe their lives to Staff Sgt Schmid's gallant actions and his sacrifice will never be forgotten." |