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L/Cpl James Ashworth killed by his own grenade, inquest finds L/Cpl James Ashworth killed by his own grenade, inquest finds
(35 minutes later)
A soldier awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross was killed by his own grenade during an enemy attack in Afghanistan, an inquest has found.A soldier awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross was killed by his own grenade during an enemy attack in Afghanistan, an inquest has found.
L/Cpl James Ashworth, from Corby, Northants, was killed as he stormed an insurgent position in Nahr-e-Saraj in Helmand Province in June 2012.L/Cpl James Ashworth, from Corby, Northants, was killed as he stormed an insurgent position in Nahr-e-Saraj in Helmand Province in June 2012.
The inquest ruled he was unlawfully killed when a shot hit his body armour, detonating a grenade he was carrying.The inquest ruled he was unlawfully killed when a shot hit his body armour, detonating a grenade he was carrying.
The 23-year-old was preparing to throw the grenade at an enemy sniper.The 23-year-old was preparing to throw the grenade at an enemy sniper.
Anne Pember, the Northamptonshire Coroner, told the inquest at Kettering that a post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death as blast injuries caused by an explosion.Anne Pember, the Northamptonshire Coroner, told the inquest at Kettering that a post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death as blast injuries caused by an explosion.
L/Cpl Ashworth, of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, died as he crawled along ground being peppered with bullets to throw his last grenade at a sniper who had his team pinned down.L/Cpl Ashworth, of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, died as he crawled along ground being peppered with bullets to throw his last grenade at a sniper who had his team pinned down.
'We'll stay strong'
Speaking after the inquest, his mother Kerry said her son, only the second soldier to be awarded a VC for bravery in Afghanistan, had died doing the job he loved.Speaking after the inquest, his mother Kerry said her son, only the second soldier to be awarded a VC for bravery in Afghanistan, had died doing the job he loved.
"His smile can light up any room he goes into and we all love and miss him so," she said."His smile can light up any room he goes into and we all love and miss him so," she said.
"James passed away doing a job he loved. At times it was a hard job but he did get to experience new countries, learn new skills and make some wonderful friends."James passed away doing a job he loved. At times it was a hard job but he did get to experience new countries, learn new skills and make some wonderful friends.
"James will be forever be in our hearts, thoughts and prayers and we will never get over his passing."James will be forever be in our hearts, thoughts and prayers and we will never get over his passing.
"But we will stay strong together as a family and along with his friends we will remain positive and celebrate his life at every opportunity as I know that is what he would want us to do.""But we will stay strong together as a family and along with his friends we will remain positive and celebrate his life at every opportunity as I know that is what he would want us to do."
His commanding officer Lt Col James Bowder said he was "the bravest of soldiers, the best of men".
As well as the VC, L/Cpl Ashworth has had a square named after him in Corby.
The coroner heard sometimes emotional testimony from comrades fighting alongside L/Cpl Ashworth on the day he died.
His platoon commander Capt Michael Dobbin described how an operation had been ordered to "kill or capture" a skilled Taliban sniper team which had shot and wounded three British soldiers in the preceding days.