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| Regiment 'numbed' by Iraq death | |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A British serviceman who died two days after a shooting in Iraq was the "epitome of the professional soldier," the Ministry of Defence has said. | |
| The death of Lee Darren Thornton, 22, from Blackpool, who died on Thursday, was said to have "numbed" colleagues. | |
| The gunner served in 58 Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery - the same unit that lost two soldiers on Monday. | |
| It was typical of his character that he volunteered to participate in the next patrol, said his commanding officer. | |
| "This gesture of defiance by Lee and his colleagues was aimed at the people who perpetrated the first attack," said Lieutenant Colonel Jon Campbell. | |
| "He showed no hesitation in driving out of the security of the Shaibah Logistics Base and facing the ever-present threat to British soldiers in Iraq." | |
| Compassionate man | |
| Lt Col Campbell said the death has touched the regiment. | |
| "We are all numbed by his passing, especially as we had clung to hope that he would survive and pull through," he said. | |
| The MoD said his patrol came under fire near a building used to plan reconstruction in the town of Al-Qurna, north of Basra on Tuesday. | |
| He was the epitome of the professional soldier; diligent, motivated, enthusiastic and tremendously fit, MoD | |
| "His injuries were so serious that, despite the best treatment available, the medical team involved were unable to save him," it said in a statement. | |
| The soldier was the 118th member of the British armed forces to die while serving in Iraq since the conflict began in March 2003. | The soldier was the 118th member of the British armed forces to die while serving in Iraq since the conflict began in March 2003. |
| Gunner Thornton's parents and his fiancee were all present at his bedside when he died. | |
| He had been taken to Germany for treatment, where his regiment is normally based. | He had been taken to Germany for treatment, where his regiment is normally based. |
| It is part of the Danish-led Basra rural north battle group. | It is part of the Danish-led Basra rural north battle group. |
| The MoD said Gunner Thornton had wanted to be a soldier from an early age and enlisted in Blackpool at the age of 16. | |
| In addition to exercises in Germany, the UK, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Poland and Canada, he took part in Operation Telic 1 in Iraq in 2003. | |
| "He was the epitome of the professional soldier; diligent, motivated, enthusiastic and tremendously fit," it said. | |
| "He was also a compassionate man and had run a marathon for charity in Blackpool in 2005, entirely of his own initiative and organisation." | |
| Two of his colleagues were killed by a roadside bomb on Monday. | Two of his colleagues were killed by a roadside bomb on Monday. |
| Gunner Stephen Wright and Gunner Samuela Vanua, both members of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, were killed in an explosion near Ad Dayr, north of Basra, on 4 September. | Gunner Stephen Wright and Gunner Samuela Vanua, both members of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, were killed in an explosion near Ad Dayr, north of Basra, on 4 September. |
| A total of 22 members of the British armed forces have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning of September; 19 in the latter and three in the former. | A total of 22 members of the British armed forces have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning of September; 19 in the latter and three in the former. |