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| Helicopter crash soldier tributes | Helicopter crash soldier tributes |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Friends of a soldier killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq have described him as an "awesome, unassuming, lovely bloke". | Friends of a soldier killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq have described him as an "awesome, unassuming, lovely bloke". |
| Colour Sergeant Mark Lawrence Powell, 37, grew up in Porthcawl, but lived in Hereford with his architect wife and six-month-old baby. | Colour Sergeant Mark Lawrence Powell, 37, grew up in Porthcawl, but lived in Hereford with his architect wife and six-month-old baby. |
| Colour Sergeant Powell, who was serving with the Parachute Regiment, was killed in the early hours of Sunday. | |
| Two British helicopters were involved in the mid-air collision near Baghdad. | |
| A keen surfer, Colour Sergeant Powell, still returned to the town where he learned the sport with his old school friends. | |
| Shock | Shock |
| Simon Tucker who runs a local surf academy said: "He was a lovely bloke, friendly to everyone. It is a shock to everyone." | Simon Tucker who runs a local surf academy said: "He was a lovely bloke, friendly to everyone. It is a shock to everyone." |
| Mr Tucker added that when he was young, Colour Sergeant Powell, had always wanted a career in the services. | |
| The former Porthcawl Comprehensive pupil had been in the Welsh surf team, Mr Tucker said. | The former Porthcawl Comprehensive pupil had been in the Welsh surf team, Mr Tucker said. |
| The Puma helicopters came down in the early hours of Sunday in a rural area near Taji, where there is a large US base. | The Puma helicopters came down in the early hours of Sunday in a rural area near Taji, where there is a large US base. |
| It is believed the helicopters had been taking part in a special forces mission. | It is believed the helicopters had been taking part in a special forces mission. |
| A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said the crash was being treated as an accident and a full investigation would be carried out. | |
| On Monday the MoD paid tribute to Mr Powell who joined his regiment more than 16 years ago. | |
| A statement said: "He was an exemplary combat leader, soldier, father, husband, friend and Briton, dedicated to his family, his men, his mission and his country. | A statement said: "He was an exemplary combat leader, soldier, father, husband, friend and Briton, dedicated to his family, his men, his mission and his country. |
| "In the finest traditions of the army and his regiment - he was utterly selfless; never shirking danger, effort or hard service in the pursuit of his mission. | "In the finest traditions of the army and his regiment - he was utterly selfless; never shirking danger, effort or hard service in the pursuit of his mission. |
| "His loss is tragic, and keenly felt by all, but his example to others will be sure to endure and inspire us all for years to come. | "His loss is tragic, and keenly felt by all, but his example to others will be sure to endure and inspire us all for years to come. |
| "Our thoughts now are with his family and his comrades." | "Our thoughts now are with his family and his comrades." |