Soldier killed by 'freak' bullet

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A soldier from Essex described as a "star" by his commanding officer was killed in Afghanistan by a single bullet to the head, an inquest heard.

Lt Aaron Lewis, 26, of 29 Commando Royal Artillery, died on 15 December 2008 when his base in the Gereshk area of Helmand Province came under attack.

The soldier from Rochford was called "greatly respected" in the narrative verdict at Southend Coroner's Court.

Outside the inquest, his commanding officer called it a "freak" bullet.

It was a one in a million round that hit him Col Neil Wilson

Col Neil Wilson said the bullet had penetrated the camp as Lt Lewis was about to put his helmet on.

The soldier had left a gym session having been alerted to the attack, when the bullet was fired from a gun positioned about half a mile (0.8km) outside the base, Col Wilson said.

Army-issued body and head protection would have been close to hand, but he was unable to put them on before being struck, he added.

"It was a one in a million round that hit him," Col Wilson said.

'Greatly loved'

Lt Lewis was airlifted to a neurosurgery unit in Kandahar, but doctors found that had suffered catastrophic brain damage.

He was pronounced dead at the military hospital, Coroner Peter Dean said.

"The fact that he made it to a neurosurgery facility was a testament to the quality of care he received from the point of wounding, and his own resilience," Dr Dean added.

Recording the narrative verdict, he said: "What is clear is that he was a young man who was hugely respected by all around him, greatly loved by his family and those close to him."

Speaking after the inquest, his family said they were content in knowing that everything possible had been done to save Lt Lewis.