Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan blast

The Marine, from 40 Commando, died while on a joint foot patrol with Afghan soldiers yesterday evening. His family has been informed.

He was the 101st member of UK forces killed in the deadly Sangin area of Helmand province, which Britain will hand over to the US Marines at the end of this year.

Lt Col James Carr-Smith, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "He died a Marine, in the course of his duty and whilst improving the lives of local nationals in Sangin.

"His bravery and sacrifice will not be forgotten. We will remember him."

Nearly a third of the 314 British deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 have happened in Sangin, currently home to the Royal Marines and supporting units of 40 Commando Battle Group.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox confirmed on Wednesday that UK forces would be withdrawn from the area in the autumn.

A US Marines battle group will be moved from Nimruz Province to take control of the area.

The handover will leave the British military effort concentrated in central Helmand, which covers a relatively small area but is home to a third of the province's population.

Meanwhile a British soldier who became the 100th member of the British forces to be killed in the Sangin area of southern Afghanistan died doing the job he loved, his family said yesterday.

Bombardier Sam Robinson, of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, died in an explosion yesterday.

He was on his fourth operational tour of Afghanistan after joining the Army in 1999 at the age of 20, according to the Ministry of Defence.