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17/01/2007
Marines bid to rescue fallen comrade
Colleagues of 30-year-old Royal Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Ford killed on Monday in Afghanistan had made a dramatic rescue attempt involving attack helicopters.
L Cpl Ford of 45 Commando Royal Marines was part of a 200-strong contingent of British Troops sent to a Taleban held fort to the south of Garmsir in Helmand province.
Although it later emerged that L Cpl Ford had been shot and killed during the operation, four of his colleagues strapped themselves to the wing-stubs of Apache attack helicopters and returned in a bid to recover him.
A spokesperson for the UK Task Force, Lt Col Rory Bruce said that the rescue attempt had been an "extraordinary tale of heroism and bravery."
While the two-man Apache helicopter gunship has provision to attach personnel to the wings, this is only done in an emergency.
Other Apache units provided covering fire while the four men conducted the recovery of L Cpl Ford's body which was taken out by one of the helicopters.
His mother Joan, said: "We are all devastated by the news of Mathew's death. He was a larger than life character who lived his life to the full.
"He was a wonderful son to me and brother to Thomas and Scott and was looking forward to his future with Ina. His love for life and his ability to make everyone laugh will always be with us."
Lance Corporal Ford's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Dewar RM, said: "Lance Corporal Ford was a popular and gregarious young Royal Marine whose professionalism, reliability, and selflessness as well as his sharp wit marked him out from the crowd. His intellect and initiative resulted in his being promoted to Lance Corporal and put in command of his peers."
(SP/KMcA)
L Cpl Ford of 45 Commando Royal Marines was part of a 200-strong contingent of British Troops sent to a Taleban held fort to the south of Garmsir in Helmand province.
Although it later emerged that L Cpl Ford had been shot and killed during the operation, four of his colleagues strapped themselves to the wing-stubs of Apache attack helicopters and returned in a bid to recover him.
A spokesperson for the UK Task Force, Lt Col Rory Bruce said that the rescue attempt had been an "extraordinary tale of heroism and bravery."
While the two-man Apache helicopter gunship has provision to attach personnel to the wings, this is only done in an emergency.
Other Apache units provided covering fire while the four men conducted the recovery of L Cpl Ford's body which was taken out by one of the helicopters.
His mother Joan, said: "We are all devastated by the news of Mathew's death. He was a larger than life character who lived his life to the full.
"He was a wonderful son to me and brother to Thomas and Scott and was looking forward to his future with Ina. His love for life and his ability to make everyone laugh will always be with us."
Lance Corporal Ford's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Dewar RM, said: "Lance Corporal Ford was a popular and gregarious young Royal Marine whose professionalism, reliability, and selflessness as well as his sharp wit marked him out from the crowd. His intellect and initiative resulted in his being promoted to Lance Corporal and put in command of his peers."
(SP/KMcA)
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