Soldier dies after Green Goddess duty

Mr Horvath was described as 'energetic and robust'

A young soldier, who returned to his native area to man Green Goddesses during the firefighters' strike, has died in a road smash at the end of his duties.

Christopher Horvath, 20, of Marske, in Cleveland, had been stationed at Brambles Farm Territorial Army base, in Middlesbrough.

He was killed during a leave weekend following the 48-hour strike as he travelled to visit friends in Hull on Saturday.

In a bizarre twist of fate, the fatal accident was passed by one of the victim's senior officers who went to help not knowing that one of his soldiers was involved.

Christopher was an extremely popular young man and was held in the highest regard by all who knew him

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Levey

Mr Horvath died in the ambulance taking him to Pontefract General Hospital, after the accident on the A1 near Micklefield, West Yorkshire.

He was a trooper with The Light Dragoons and had been based in Dereham, Norfolk, for the past three years.

Captain Kevin Smith had also been stationed on Teesside during the strike and was travelling on the same stretch of road at the time of the crash.

Captain Smith left his car to see if he could offer help, only to discover that Trooper Horvath was involved.

Mr Horvath's father, also called Christopher, of Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, said: "It hasn't sunk in yet, it's as if he is still away on Army exercises and we are just waiting for him to come home.

"It was a blessing that Captain Smith was there as I'm sure it would have been a great comfort to Christopher at the time, as it is to us now, knowing that he was with one of his own."

'Bright future'

Mr Horvath's mother Val Smith, and his stepfather Shaun Flynn, of Redcar, said they were also taking comfort from the presence at the scene of Captain Smith.

"He was holding his hand all the way to the hospital. It gives us great comfort to know someone from his own unit was there with him," said Mr Flynn.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Levey, commanding officer of The Light Dragoons, said: "Christopher was an extremely popular young man and was held in the highest regard by all who knew him.

"There's no doubt in my mind that a bright future lay ahead of him and the regiment, as a family, is deeply saddened by Christopher's untimely death."