Female Soldier Killed In Blast Died 'A Hero'

The female soldier killed in Afghanistan has been praised as a "hero" by her husband.

The soldier, from Cumbria, has been named as Sergeant Sarah Bryant.

Cpl Bryant's husband and fellow soldier, Carl, said his wife was "a truly special person who died a hero".

Cpl Carl Bryant, said: "Although I am devastated beyond words at the death of my beautiful wife Sarah, I am so incredibly proud of her. She was an awesome soldier who died doing the job that she loved. My wife knew the risks, she was there because she wanted to be, and she wouldn't have had it any other way."

Cpl Bryant's father, Des Feely has said in a newspaper interview that he and his wife are "absolutely devastated" to have "lost the beautiful daughter we adored".

Cpl Bryant, 26, had been in Afghanistan for three months as a member of 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group based in Chicksands, Bedfordshire.

Yesterday the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the deaths of an Intelligence Corps officer and three other British troops.

A spokesperson for the MoD said the troops were taking part in a planned operation east of Lashkar Gah when the vehicle they were travelling in caught in an explosion.

Three of the soldiers, who have also not yet been named, were killed outright in the blast and another was pronounced dead at the British military base, Camp Bastion.

A fifth soldier is receiving treatment for his wounds and is in a stable condition.

It is reported that the deaths are the biggest single loss of life for the Territorial Army since the Second World War and the biggest loss of life for British troops since September 2006, when 14 personnel were killed in an RAF Nimrod crash near Kandahar.

British Army spokesman at Camp Bastion, Lt Col Robin Matthews says that "while the past weekend has indeed been bruising", personnel "must remain fixed on what the strategic imperative is here".

Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to the four soldiers and said: "I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the four brave British soldiers who have lost their lives in Afghanistan and will be deeply mourned."

Mr Brown added that British troops are "the best in the world" and fight for "the noblest of causes".

Defence Secretary Des Brown said it "has been a very difficult time" but that British troops are "enjoying a degree of success" at the moment.

Ms Bryant's death is expected to open up debate about the use of women on the front line of war.

Gerald Howarth, the Shadow Defence Minister, has called the Government to "make clear" its position on the role of women in frontline positions.

See: Servicewoman Among British Dead In Afghanistan

(DS)