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| Explosives expert's body returned | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The body of a British soldier who was killed while trying to defuse a bomb in Afghanistan has been returned to the UK at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. | The body of a British soldier who was killed while trying to defuse a bomb in Afghanistan has been returned to the UK at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire. |
| Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, 30, had made safe 64 explosive devices and found 11 bomb-making centres during his five months in the country. | Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, 30, had made safe 64 explosive devices and found 11 bomb-making centres during his five months in the country. |
| He lived in Winchester, Hampshire, with his wife Christina, and stepson, five. | He lived in Winchester, Hampshire, with his wife Christina, and stepson, five. |
| A private ceremony at the base's chapel will take place before his body passes through the town of Wootton Bassett. | A private ceremony at the base's chapel will take place before his body passes through the town of Wootton Bassett. |
| It will then be taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. | It will then be taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. |
| Oz was a phenomenal husband and loving father who was cruelly murdered on his last day of a relentless five-month tour Christina Schmid, widow Brother's tribute | Oz was a phenomenal husband and loving father who was cruelly murdered on his last day of a relentless five-month tour Christina Schmid, widow Brother's tribute |
| Staff Sgt Schmid was serving with the Royal Logistic Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, based in Didcot, Oxfordshire. | Staff Sgt Schmid was serving with the Royal Logistic Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, based in Didcot, Oxfordshire. |
| He was a week away from seeing his family again when he was killed on Saturday in Helmand province. | He was a week away from seeing his family again when he was killed on Saturday in Helmand province. |
| He had been in the Army for 13 years and was commanding a bomb disposal team dealing with a roadside device near Sangin. | He had been in the Army for 13 years and was commanding a bomb disposal team dealing with a roadside device near Sangin. |
| He was killed when the bomb went off as he was defusing it. | He was killed when the bomb went off as he was defusing it. |
| Earlier, his wife, Christina, said: "Oz was a phenomenal husband and loving father who was cruelly murdered on his last day of a relentless five-month tour. | Earlier, his wife, Christina, said: "Oz was a phenomenal husband and loving father who was cruelly murdered on his last day of a relentless five-month tour. |
| Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid served in the Army for 13 years | |
| "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." |
| 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". |