Soldier killed driving ambulance

3:24pm Thursday 24th July 2008

A British soldier was killed by a suspected roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan as he drove an ambulance back to base, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Corporal Jason Barnes, 25, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached to 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, died on Tuesday.

His commanding officer said he was killed helping others when he could have "taken an easier path" and praised his "commitment and bloody-minded determination".

Cpl Barnes, from Exeter, Devon, helped save the life of one of his comrades immediately before his death.

Another soldier from 2 Para was critically wounded in a mine blast as British troops took on Taliban militants in the Kajaki area of Helmand Province on Tuesday evening.

After assisting with the evacuation of the injured serviceman by helicopter, Cpl Barnes was driving a Vector army ambulance back to base when it was hit by a suspected insurgent explosive device.

Despite medics' efforts, he died a few minutes later.

Cpl Barnes leaves his wife Diana, with whom he recently moved to Colchester, Essex, the home of 2 Para.

Cpl Barnes's colleagues and senior officers paid tribute to a hard-working soldier with a "bright future" who always went out of his way to help.

His company commander, Major Grant Haywood, praised his "boundless energy and selfless commitment".