Dead soldier the 'epitome of a hero'

Published on Friday 22 May 2009 09:57

A DECORATED Edinburgh soldier who died trying to disarm a Taleban bomb in Afghanistan was hailed as "the epitome of a hero" after an inquest into his death.

Bomb disposal specialist Warrant Officer Gary O'Donnell, 40, of the Royal Logistic Corps, was blown up as he approached the device near Musa Qala in Helmand Province in September last year.

His widow, friends and colleagues paid tribute to his outstanding bravery, which prompted the Ministry of Defence to award him a second George Medal posthumously in March.

Speaking after yesterday's inquest, his widow Toni, who has a young child by him, said: "He was very brave. I know how brave he was now. He kept it to himself. I think he put it to the back of his mind how dangerous it was."

Captain Michael Webb of the Royal Logistics Corps, part of the same unit as WO O'Donnell, said: "Every time he was on the ground removing a device he without a doubt saved lives. He was the epitome of a hero."

Warwickshire coroner Sean McGovern recorded a verdict that WO O'Donnell died from blast wounds caused by an explosion while on active service as a member of the armed forces.