Another British soldier’s death brings Afghanistan toll to 377

The serviceman from 1st Battalion The Rifles was in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on an operation to recover bomb components when he died.

Another device exploded a short distance away from where the parts had been found. His family have been informed.

News of the death came as another British soldier who died in Afghanistan on Saturday was named as Lance Corporal Paul Watkins. The total number of British service personnel who have died in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001 is now 377.

In response to the latest death, spokesman for Task Force Helmand Lieutenant Colonel Tim Purbrick said: “As he led the specialist counter-improvised explosive device team to rendezvous with another patrol at the start of the operation, the soldier was fatally injured in an explosion. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

L/Cpl Watkins, from the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s), is thought to have been shot dead by a member of the Afghan army in southern Afghanistan while on a routine patrol.

A spokesman from the Ministry of Defence said: “The foot patrol was nearing the end of its route and returning to Lance Corporal Watkins’ location when it came under contact from enemy small-arms fire.

“It was during this small-arms engagement that Lance Corporal Watkins was fatally wounded.”

The family of L/Cpl Watkins paid tribute to the soldier, who died in Gereshk in Central Helmand Province.

“Paul wanted to join the Army from a very young age,” they said in a statement. He was proud to be a soldier and was proud of what he was doing. He died doing a job that he loved.

“He was such a loving and caring son, grandson and brother. He will be very sadly missed by his family and friends, who loved him dearly.”