Soldier dies after helicopter crashes into look-out
A soldier died after a helicopter hit the look-out post in Afghanistan where he was keeping watch, it has emerged.
Rifleman Remand Kulung, 27, from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, died from his injuries in a Birmingham hospital on Thursday.
Two days earlier, a Chinook hit his look-out post in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand. He was injured as it collapsed.
The MoD said it was investigating his death and could not comment on who the helicopter belonged to.
His wife Sophy said he was a "kind, brave and very honest soldier" and that she was proud to have been his wife.
"He has always been sincere and devoted towards his responsibilities as a soldier, which Gurkha Soldiers are renowned for," she added, in a statement on the Ministry of Defence website.
"He'll be missed by me and my family forever."
Rifleman Kulung, from Basaha, Nepal, was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
He had been serving with G (Tobruk) Company, on attachment to the Danish Battlegroup since April.
1st Battalion commanding officer Lt Col Andy Hadfield said: "He was a courageous, fit and highly capable soldier, committed to his profession and to his comrades.
"A passionate supporter of Manchester United, and a man possessing of a natural and sharp sense of humour.
"He was the epitome of the Gurkha soldier; brave, determined and dedicated to his fellow soldiers."
Rifleman Farendra Gurung said his friend was the most entertaining person in their platoon and that he always "made us laugh and made time fly".
This week has seen four soldiers serving in Afghanistan die, taking the total number of deaths of UK personnel killed in operations since 2001 to 331.
Lt John Sanderson, also from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, died in hospital on Wednesday from injuries from an explosion on 13 July.
Sapper Darren Foster, 20, from 21 Engineer Regiment, died in hospital on Friday after being shot in the Sangin district of Helmand province.
On the same day, a third soldier from the same regiment, who has not yet been named, was shot dead in the Nad-e Ali district.