Tragic Army son 'didn't have care in the world'

THE parents of soldier Luke Farmer paid tribute to their "popular and lively" son after the 19-year-old was killed by an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan.

Rifleman Farmer, from Pontefract, was the victim of a powerful explosion while patrolling in South Sangin in Helmand Province.

He is the most recent soldier from West Yorkshire to have died in Afghanistan, following the losses of Rifleman James Backhouse, 18, on July 10 last year, Bombardier Craig Hopson, 24, on July 25 last year and Lance Corporal David Kirkness, 24, on December 15 year.

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Speaking from the family home, Mark and Angela Farmer said their rugby-mad son had been loved by everyone he had come into contact with.

Mrs Farmer, 44, said: "He was very popular and lively and he didn't have a care in the world.

If you brought up anything that was worrying you he would just be 'it will be right'. I think that must have been his favourite phrase. He never worried himself too much about anything."

Rifleman Farmer, who had been playing rugby since the age of six and represented local side Upton Amateurs, was hoping to turn professional before a careers lecture came to his school one day.

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Mrs Farmer said: "He always said that if he didn't become a professional rugby player he'd like to join the army and, when he didn't get picked up, he decided to join."

He joined up in October 2008 and passed out in April 2009 before flying out to Afghanistan at the beginning of October last year.

"We only spoke to him on the Tuesday before he died and he was saying that it had been really quiet since he had gone back out there."

Mr Farmer, 43, said of his son: "Everyone in the army that we spoke to about him said he was an amazing soldier and that he had matured beyond his age."

Rifleman Farmer had two brothers, Scott, 22, and Ross, 21.

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