Scots commando killed in training fall

A YOUNG Scottish commando plunged to his death while abseiling from a helicopter during a training exercise.

Gordon Campbell, 28, a Lance Corporal in the Royal Marines, was killed as he was descending about 100ft from a rope attached to a helicopter during an exercise at the Pontrilas army training centre near Hereford.

L-Cpl Campbell, known as Gordy, who had served in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan since joining the marines, was based at Poole in Dorset, home of the Royal Marines Assault Group and the elite forces unit, the Special Boat Service.

His devastated parents, Gordon Campbell snr, a leading business figure in Aberdeen where he used to run a construction company, and his wife, Margaret, were told of the tragedy, which happened on Monday, while they were on holiday in the Far East.

It is understood that Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United FC, who has been a close friend of the family since his days as Aberdeen manager, contacted the airline mogul Sir Richard Branson to help arrange a flight home for the couple.

One of the marine's two sisters, Julia Hay, was staying at her parents' home in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, as she waited for them to return home.

A friend of the family said: "This is just tragic news. They were away on holiday with their neighbours in China or Japan.

"I think it was quite hard to get the news through to them but they managed to book a flight back to the UK as soon as they could."

He added: "They are all such a lovely family. Gordy had two sisters, Julia and Cheryl. It is just such a waste of a young life."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "L-Cpl Campbell was conducting routine training, involving fast roping from a helicopter, which is a Royal Marine skill, when he fell. The incident took place at the Pontrilas army training area, near Hereford. A thorough investigation is under way to determine the cause."

He added: "Gordy joined the Royal Marines in November 1997. During his nine years in the military Gordy had strong operational experience from service in Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan."

The spokesman continued: "A Royal Navy board of inquiry will look at the incident - what happened and whether there are any lessons to be learned."

Asked if the young marine had been attached to the Special Boat Service, the Royal Navy's special forces unit or any other elite force, the spokesman replied: "I have no information about his unit at all."

The SBS is an independent unit of the Royal Marines and is based with 1 Assault Group Royal Marines and the British Army's 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery at Poole.

L-Cpl Campbell's commanding officer last night paid tribute to the young marine. He said: "Throughout his career Gordy demonstrated a natural flair for soldiering, which was coupled with an exceptional level of professionalism.

"As an individual he will be remembered as a fun-loving, generous, selfless and impressive man with a passion for Manchester United. A loyal and dependable man, he has been a fine ambassador for the Royal Marines. He will be sorely missed."