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Capt Stephen Healey was 'one of the best' inquest hears | Capt Stephen Healey was 'one of the best' inquest hears |
(35 minutes later) | |
An army officer killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan was "one of the best of his generation", an inquest heard. | An army officer killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan was "one of the best of his generation", an inquest heard. |
Capt Stephen Healey, 29, from Cardiff, was commanding his platoon from a lead vehicle when it ran over and detonated the Improvised Explosive Device (IED). | Capt Stephen Healey, 29, from Cardiff, was commanding his platoon from a lead vehicle when it ran over and detonated the Improvised Explosive Device (IED). |
The blast in Helmand Province in May 2011, threw the vehicle into the air, killing the ex-Swansea City footballer. | The blast in Helmand Province in May 2011, threw the vehicle into the air, killing the ex-Swansea City footballer. |
Capt Healey had survived an IED blast in Helmand Province two years earlier. | Capt Healey had survived an IED blast in Helmand Province two years earlier. |
The inquest heard he had been an apprentice at Swansea City FC before joining the Army and being commissioned into 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers). | |
The inquest was told on the day of Capt Healey's death, the armoured Jackal patrol vehicle he was in landed on its side where he was sitting. | The inquest was told on the day of Capt Healey's death, the armoured Jackal patrol vehicle he was in landed on its side where he was sitting. |
He died in a Chinook helicopter which was taking him to military hospital. | He died in a Chinook helicopter which was taking him to military hospital. |
'Fun to be around' | 'Fun to be around' |
His Commanding officer, Major Charles Carver, told the inquest: "Professionally Capt Healey was one of the best of his generation. | His Commanding officer, Major Charles Carver, told the inquest: "Professionally Capt Healey was one of the best of his generation. |
"Not only that he was gregarious and fun to be around - he was able to get on with anybody." | "Not only that he was gregarious and fun to be around - he was able to get on with anybody." |
The inquest was told Capt Healey was protecting a road in the north of the Nahr-e Saraj District. | The inquest was told Capt Healey was protecting a road in the north of the Nahr-e Saraj District. |
He and his platoon were on their way to check a canal crossing point on a gravel track. | He and his platoon were on their way to check a canal crossing point on a gravel track. |
Driver Lce Corp Ian Lane said: "We crept forward slowly along the track looking for IEDs. The next thing I know I was up in the air. | Driver Lce Corp Ian Lane said: "We crept forward slowly along the track looking for IEDs. The next thing I know I was up in the air. |
"We landed down on the passenger side - everyone remained strapped in the vehicle apart from the gunner who was thrown onto the ground. | "We landed down on the passenger side - everyone remained strapped in the vehicle apart from the gunner who was thrown onto the ground. |
"It took a couple of seconds to realise what happened. | "It took a couple of seconds to realise what happened. |
"I looked and saw signs of injury to Capt Healey and we went automatically into what we were trained to do - give first aid to him. | "I looked and saw signs of injury to Capt Healey and we went automatically into what we were trained to do - give first aid to him. |
"But I could see the circumstances were not good." | "But I could see the circumstances were not good." |
'Unresponsive' | 'Unresponsive' |
Medic Lce Corp Brian King told how he was first to reach Capt Healey. | Medic Lce Corp Brian King told how he was first to reach Capt Healey. |
"He was unresponsive," he said. "I tried to talk to him but he wasn't responding in any way. | "He was unresponsive," he said. "I tried to talk to him but he wasn't responding in any way. |
"He had a broken jaw and he wasn't breathing. There was no pulse." | "He had a broken jaw and he wasn't breathing. There was no pulse." |
The inquest heard five more buried IEDs were found along the route where Capt Healey died. | The inquest heard five more buried IEDs were found along the route where Capt Healey died. |
He was mentioned in Dispatches for his outstanding leadership and bravery in the face of enemy fire on his first tour of Afghanistan in 2009. | He was mentioned in Dispatches for his outstanding leadership and bravery in the face of enemy fire on his first tour of Afghanistan in 2009. |
Capt Healey left behind his father John, mother Kerry, brother Simon and girlfriend Thea. | Capt Healey left behind his father John, mother Kerry, brother Simon and girlfriend Thea. |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |