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| MoD names latest Helmand casualty | MoD names latest Helmand casualty |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence. | A British soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence. |
| Lance Corporal Darren Hicks, 29, from 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, died while on patrol in the Babaji district of Helmand province on Thursday. | Lance Corporal Darren Hicks, 29, from 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, died while on patrol in the Babaji district of Helmand province on Thursday. |
| In a statement, his commanding officer said the father-of-two, from Mousehole in Cornwall, was "one of the finest Lance Corporals currently serving". | In a statement, his commanding officer said the father-of-two, from Mousehole in Cornwall, was "one of the finest Lance Corporals currently serving". |
| His widow Katie said "he was taken doing the job he loved". | His widow Katie said "he was taken doing the job he loved". |
| L/Cpl Hicks' death brought the total number of British personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 257. | |
| 'Enormous gap' | |
| Lt Col Toby Gray, commanding officer of L/Cpl Hicks' battalion, said he was was "at the top of the list to attend the promotion course that would propel him to the next rank of lance sergeant". | |
| "He led his men like a lance sergeant and they responded to his leadership as if he were a lance sergeant; they respected and loved him in equal measure," Lt Col Gray said. | |
| "He was a keen rugby player, a son of Cornwall, and the sun rarely set on his smile; ready always to lend a hand or offer a gentle word of support to those senior as well as junior to himself. | |
| "The gap in our ranks left by his untimely death is enormous." | |
| L/Cpl Hicks had a three-year-old son, Henry, and 10-month-old baby daughter, Daisy. | |
| His widow said in a statement: "I am devastated by the loss of Darren. | |
| "He was a loving husband and father; he was my life and my everything." |