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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Tributes to 'outstanding' airman | Tributes to 'outstanding' airman |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| RAF comrades have paid tribute to an "outstanding gunner" killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. | RAF comrades have paid tribute to an "outstanding gunner" killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. |
| Senior Aircraftman Luke Southgate, 20, from Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, was "fiercely loyal", his friends said. | Senior Aircraftman Luke Southgate, 20, from Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, was "fiercely loyal", his friends said. |
| SAC Southgate, from 2 Squadron, RAF Regiment, died while on patrol north of Kandahar airfield on Wednesday. | SAC Southgate, from 2 Squadron, RAF Regiment, died while on patrol north of Kandahar airfield on Wednesday. |
| Meanwhile, a soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment has died in a blast near a checkpoint in Helmand province. His family have been informed. | Meanwhile, a soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment has died in a blast near a checkpoint in Helmand province. His family have been informed. |
| It brought the number of deaths in Afghanistan among British service personnel since 2001 to 266. | It brought the number of deaths in Afghanistan among British service personnel since 2001 to 266. |
| SAC Southgate joined the RAF as a gunner in 2008 and earned the Frank Sylvester Trophy for top student during his traineeship. | SAC Southgate joined the RAF as a gunner in 2008 and earned the Frank Sylvester Trophy for top student during his traineeship. |
| He went on to become a machine-gun specialist and had planned to stay with the RAF for two years before joining the special forces, according to the Ministry of Defence. | He went on to become a machine-gun specialist and had planned to stay with the RAF for two years before joining the special forces, according to the Ministry of Defence. |
| He was a willing volunteer for his tour of duty in Afghanistan and epitomised the very best the service represents Air Cmdr Malcolm Brecht UK soldier killed in Afghanistan | He was a willing volunteer for his tour of duty in Afghanistan and epitomised the very best the service represents Air Cmdr Malcolm Brecht UK soldier killed in Afghanistan |
| In Afghanistan, he was working as part of the Kandahar Airfield Defence Force. He died when the military Land Rover he was driving ran into a roadside bomb. | In Afghanistan, he was working as part of the Kandahar Airfield Defence Force. He died when the military Land Rover he was driving ran into a roadside bomb. |
| The airfield commander Air Commodore Malcolm Brecht described SAC Southgate as "an outstanding gunner in every respect". | The airfield commander Air Commodore Malcolm Brecht described SAC Southgate as "an outstanding gunner in every respect". |
| "An enthusiastic, loyal and dedicated member of the Royal Air Force Regiment, he was a willing volunteer for his tour of duty in Afghanistan and epitomised the very best the service represents - loyalty, respect, selflessness, service and excellence," he said. | "An enthusiastic, loyal and dedicated member of the Royal Air Force Regiment, he was a willing volunteer for his tour of duty in Afghanistan and epitomised the very best the service represents - loyalty, respect, selflessness, service and excellence," he said. |
| SAC Southgate was described by friends as "happy, compassionate and fiercely loyal" and comrades also spoke of his sense of humour. | SAC Southgate was described by friends as "happy, compassionate and fiercely loyal" and comrades also spoke of his sense of humour. |
Most recent UK fatalities | |
| Total deaths 2010: 20 | |
| Updated: Feb 26 2010Full list | |
| His family paid tribute to the "best son, brother and boyfriend" they could have wished for. | His family paid tribute to the "best son, brother and boyfriend" they could have wished for. |
| As well as his relatives, SAC Southgate is survived by his girlfriend, named only as Caley. | As well as his relatives, SAC Southgate is survived by his girlfriend, named only as Caley. |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "He was a young man who showed great promise as a soldier and was a loyal comrade to his colleagues. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "He was a young man who showed great promise as a soldier and was a loyal comrade to his colleagues. |
| "He had already marked himself out as skilled soldier with leadership potential even before he deployed to Afghanistan." | "He had already marked himself out as skilled soldier with leadership potential even before he deployed to Afghanistan." |