Soldier son of council chief hurt in blast

Private Matthew Light, 19, who is the son of Kirklees Tory leader Coun Robert Light, was on foot patrol in Helmand Province on Friday when he was caught in an explosion.

As reported in yesterday’s Yorkshire Post, the explosion killed Private John King, also 19, from Darlington.

The blast happened during a firefight with insurgents.

Both men were serving with the 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.

Private Light, who was leading the patrol, suffered shrapnel wounds to the backs of his legs and is currently deaf in one ear.

He has undergone surgery to his legs and is due to fly back to the UK for further treatment by the end of this week.

His father Robert said: “He has obviously gone through quite a trauma and is emotional about what’s happened.

“He has lost a close friend. They are all very close in the Company – they train together and live together and work as a team.”

The news of the injuries to Private Light arrived at the family home in Birkenshaw, near Bradford, on Friday evening, just a short time after the Improvised Explosive Device exploded.

Coun Light feared the worst when a man from the Army arrived at his house.

“We know that Matt was the lucky one of the two. I feel so bad for the family of the soldier who was killed and on this occasion we were so lucky.”

He praised medics at Camp Bastion and said the Army’s care and support had been first class.

Coun Light, his wife Sharon and their daughters Jessica, 14, and Rebekah, eight, are due to visit the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham as soon as Private Light is flown home.

Coun Light is hopeful that his son will make a full recovery from his injuries.