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Capt Stephen Healey was 'one of the best' inquest hears Capt Stephen Healey was 'one of the best' inquest hears
(about 1 hour later)
An army officer killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan was "one of the best of his generation", a Cardiff inquest has heard. An army officer killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan was "one of the best of his generation", an inquest heard.
Capt Stephen Healey, 29, from Cardiff, was commanding his platoon from a lead vehicle when it ran over and detonated the Improvised Explosive Device(IED). Capt Stephen Healey, 29, from Cardiff, was commanding his platoon from a lead vehicle when it ran over and detonated the Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
The vehicle was thrown into the air during the blast in Helmand Province in May 2011, killing the former Swansea City footballer. The blast in Helmand Province in May 2011, threw the vehicle into the air, killing the ex-Swansea City footballer.
The four-day inquest continues. Capt Healey had survived an IED blast in Helmand Province two years earlier.
More to follow. On the first day of a four-day the hearing, the inquest heard he had been an apprentice at Swansea City FC before joining the Army and being commissioned into 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers).
The inquest was told on the day of Capt Healey's death, the armoured Jackal patrol vehicle he was in landed on its side where he was sitting.
He died in a Chinook helicopter which was taking him to military hospital.
'Fun to be around'
His Commanding officer, Major Charles Carver, told the inquest: "Professionally Capt Healey was one of the best of his generation.
"Not only that he was gregarious and fun to be around - he was able to get on with anybody."
The inquest was told Capt Healey was protecting a road in the north of the Nahr-e Saraj District.
He and his platoon were on their way to check a canal crossing point on a gravel track.
Driver Lce Corp Ian Lane said: "We crept forward slowly along the track looking for IEDs. The next thing I know I was up in the air.
"We landed down on the passenger side - everyone remained strapped in the vehicle apart from the gunner who was thrown onto the ground.
"It took a couple of seconds to realise what happened.
"I looked and saw signs of injury to Capt Healey and we went automatically into what we were trained to do - give first aid to him.
"But I could see the circumstances were not good."
'Unresponsive'
Medic Lce Corp Brian King told how he was first to reach Capt Healey.
"He was unresponsive," he said. "I tried to talk to him but he wasn't responding in any way.
"He had a broken jaw and he wasn't breathing. There was no pulse."
The inquest heard five more buried IEDs were found along the route where Capt Healey died.
He was mentioned in Dispatches for his outstanding leadership and bravery in the face of enemy fire on his first tour of Afghanistan in 2009.
Capt Healey left behind his father John, mother Kerry, brother Simon and girlfriend Thea.
The inquest continues.