This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-23528402
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| 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, Northamptonshire, was killed as he stormed an insurgent position in Nahr-e-Saraj in Helmand Province last June. | L/Cpl James Ashworth, from Corby, Northamptonshire, was killed as he stormed an insurgent position in Nahr-e-Saraj in Helmand Province last June. |
| 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' | '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". | 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 had a square named after him in Corby. | As well as the VC, L/Cpl Ashworth had a square named after him in Corby. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "L/Cpl Ashworth suggested that if he moved along a low wall, he would be out of line of sight," said Capt Dobbin. | "L/Cpl Ashworth suggested that if he moved along a low wall, he would be out of line of sight," said Capt Dobbin. |
| "He was confident he could get the grenade in the doorway, allowing me and Capt Davis to assault the position. | "He was confident he could get the grenade in the doorway, allowing me and Capt Davis to assault the position. |
| Grenade 'already primed' | Grenade 'already primed' |
| "In the space of about two seconds we heard a cry of warning, then the rounds came in, then an enormous explosion." | "In the space of about two seconds we heard a cry of warning, then the rounds came in, then an enormous explosion." |
| He said there were "no signs of life" from L/Cpl Ashworth and the insurgent was killed minutes later. | He said there were "no signs of life" from L/Cpl Ashworth and the insurgent was killed minutes later. |
| L/Cpl Ashworth was airlifted and pronounced dead on arrival at the field hospital at Camp Bastion. | L/Cpl Ashworth was airlifted and pronounced dead on arrival at the field hospital at Camp Bastion. |
| A post-mortem examination revealed numerous "blast fragment wounds" to his head and body, with forensic pathologist Dr Nicolas Hunt stating he "would not expect him to survive" the wounds sustained. | A post-mortem examination revealed numerous "blast fragment wounds" to his head and body, with forensic pathologist Dr Nicolas Hunt stating he "would not expect him to survive" the wounds sustained. |
| He added that there would have been "virtually instantaneous loss of consciousness". | He added that there would have been "virtually instantaneous loss of consciousness". |
| The bullet was of the calibre fired from AK47-type weapons favoured by the Taliban, the inquest heard. | The bullet was of the calibre fired from AK47-type weapons favoured by the Taliban, the inquest heard. |
| Mrs Pember, giving her verdict, said: "James bravely volunteered to throw the last grenade. | Mrs Pember, giving her verdict, said: "James bravely volunteered to throw the last grenade. |
| "He crouched down by a wall and sadly his body armour was struck by a single gunshot which knocked him to the ground. | "He crouched down by a wall and sadly his body armour was struck by a single gunshot which knocked him to the ground. |
| "The grenade he had was already primed and detonated next to him." | "The grenade he had was already primed and detonated next to him." |
| She added that L/Cpl Ashworth was "one of only 10 soldiers to receive the highest honour for gallantry since the Second World War". |