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| UK soldiers died 'to save lives' | UK soldiers died 'to save lives' |
| (1 day later) | |
| Two UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan sacrificed their lives to stop suicide bombers attacking a packed marketplace, their commanding officer has said. | Two UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan sacrificed their lives to stop suicide bombers attacking a packed marketplace, their commanding officer has said. |
| L/Cpl David Kirkness, 24, of West Yorkshire, and Rifleman James Brown, 18, from Kent, both of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, died on Tuesday. | |
| They were killed by an explosion at a vehicle checkpoint near Sangin in Helmand. Two Afghan soldiers also died. | They were killed by an explosion at a vehicle checkpoint near Sangin in Helmand. Two Afghan soldiers also died. |
| Lt Col Nick Kitson said they had "averted a much larger tragedy". | Lt Col Nick Kitson said they had "averted a much larger tragedy". |
| The joint patrol consisted of four Afghan soldiers, 15 British soldiers from 3 Rifles and an interpreter. They had set up a vehicle checkpoint near the main bazaar area. | The joint patrol consisted of four Afghan soldiers, 15 British soldiers from 3 Rifles and an interpreter. They had set up a vehicle checkpoint near the main bazaar area. |
| Rifleman James Brown's mother Tracy pays tribute to her "beautiful boy" | Rifleman James Brown's mother Tracy pays tribute to her "beautiful boy" |
| The MoD said reports from the scene suggested a motorbike carrying two men came towards the checkpoint and drove straight into it. Eyewitnesses have also reported a double explosion. | The MoD said reports from the scene suggested a motorbike carrying two men came towards the checkpoint and drove straight into it. Eyewitnesses have also reported a double explosion. |
| Officials say the insurgents may not have been expecting the checkpoint and had probably planned on attacking the civilians in the market. | Officials say the insurgents may not have been expecting the checkpoint and had probably planned on attacking the civilians in the market. |
| Within minutes, an RAF Chinook helicopter landed close to the incident to evacuate the British casualties, despite coming under attack from small arms and grenades. | Within minutes, an RAF Chinook helicopter landed close to the incident to evacuate the British casualties, despite coming under attack from small arms and grenades. |
| L/Cpl Kirkness and Rifleman Brown were pronounced dead shortly after. The incident is now under investigation. | L/Cpl Kirkness and Rifleman Brown were pronounced dead shortly after. The incident is now under investigation. |
| 'Comfort and pride' | 'Comfort and pride' |
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| L/Cpl Kirkness, from Morley in Leeds, was described by his commanding officer as "a first-class leader". | L/Cpl Kirkness, from Morley in Leeds, was described by his commanding officer as "a first-class leader". |
| He said: "To the younger riflemen he gave inspiration and guidance, earning their respect and instilling in them the confidence and understanding to guide them through their current challenges. | He said: "To the younger riflemen he gave inspiration and guidance, earning their respect and instilling in them the confidence and understanding to guide them through their current challenges. |
| "He balanced courage and grit with compassion and consideration, winning trust, admiration and friendship wherever he went. | "He balanced courage and grit with compassion and consideration, winning trust, admiration and friendship wherever he went. |
| "Tragic as his loss is, we take comfort and pride from the fact that he and the soldiers who died with him, both Afghan and British, averted a much larger tragedy. | "Tragic as his loss is, we take comfort and pride from the fact that he and the soldiers who died with him, both Afghan and British, averted a much larger tragedy. |
| "Their sacrifice prevented two suicide bombers from reaching their intended target, the bustling and ever more prosperous Sangin bazaar, packed with local Afghans going about their daily business." | "Their sacrifice prevented two suicide bombers from reaching their intended target, the bustling and ever more prosperous Sangin bazaar, packed with local Afghans going about their daily business." |
| A statement from his parents, Christopher and Margaret Kirkness and his three-year-old daughter, Brooke, said: "We would like to thank family and friends for their support over these difficult times. | A statement from his parents, Christopher and Margaret Kirkness and his three-year-old daughter, Brooke, said: "We would like to thank family and friends for their support over these difficult times. |
| "If you knew David, you had to love him - it was impossible not to. And in David's own words, 'If you didn't know me, hard luck.' He will always be in our hearts." | "If you knew David, you had to love him - it was impossible not to. And in David's own words, 'If you didn't know me, hard luck.' He will always be in our hearts." |
| 'Bright future' | 'Bright future' |
| The family of Rifleman Brown, from Farnborough, Hampshire, said: "James Stephen Brown, a son, brother, uncle, boyfriend and a friend. You were a true hero and will be dearly missed. | The family of Rifleman Brown, from Farnborough, Hampshire, said: "James Stephen Brown, a son, brother, uncle, boyfriend and a friend. You were a true hero and will be dearly missed. |
| "We all love you so much. You died a hero living your dream and you will always be in our thoughts. Your actions will always speak louder than words ever could." | "We all love you so much. You died a hero living your dream and you will always be in our thoughts. Your actions will always speak louder than words ever could." |
| Lt Col Kitson said he was a young man "showing the promising signs of a soldier with a bright future". | Lt Col Kitson said he was a young man "showing the promising signs of a soldier with a bright future". |
| He said: "He had already made a lasting impression on his fellow riflemen with his immense courage, infectious confidence and talent for making people laugh. | He said: "He had already made a lasting impression on his fellow riflemen with his immense courage, infectious confidence and talent for making people laugh. |
| "What he lacked in experience he made up for in enthusiasm, young yet keen to please and with a voracious appetite for work and fun in equal measure. | "What he lacked in experience he made up for in enthusiasm, young yet keen to please and with a voracious appetite for work and fun in equal measure. |
| "It is all the more difficult to come to terms with the loss of one so young and we are all deprived of the joy of watching his promise unfold." | "It is all the more difficult to come to terms with the loss of one so young and we are all deprived of the joy of watching his promise unfold." |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said he was "extremely saddened" to learn of the deaths. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said he was "extremely saddened" to learn of the deaths. |
| A total of 239 UK service personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001, including 102 this year. | A total of 239 UK service personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001, including 102 this year. |