Dead British marine named by MoD

Mne Mackie was described as 'a true hero' by his commander

A British marine killed in Afghanistan has been named as Jason Mackie, from The Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, by the Ministry of Defence.

The 21-year-old, from Oxfordshire, died while travelling in a Viking vehicle in Helmand province on Thursday.

His vehicle was struck by an explosive device while in the Basharan area.

He is the sixth UK serviceman to die in Afghanistan in eight days, taking the total number of UK troops killed there on operations since 2001 to 159.

Mne Mackie's family has been informed and another member of the vehicle's crew, who was also injured in the explosion, is still receiving medical treatment.

Lt Col Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "We are numb with grief at this loss of a noble marine, who served his country for the good of the Afghan people.

Marine Mackie was a colourful, cheerful and enthusiastic young man who I will always remember for his sense of fun and everlasting grin Major Richard Hopkins

"He will always be remembered as a true hero."

Major Richard Hopkins, Officer Commanding Armoured Support Group, said: "Marine Mackie was a colourful, cheerful and enthusiastic young man who I will always remember for his sense of fun and everlasting grin.

"He was immensely proud of being a Royal Marine and a Viking operator and took great pleasure in his work."

Further deaths

Defence Secretary John Hutton said: "I was extremely saddened to learn of the death of Marine Jason Mackie.

"It is clear from the tributes paid to him by his commanders and comrades that he was a very popular character and a brave young Marine, whose loss will be felt deeply by those he fought beside as well as by his loved ones.

"My thoughts are with them at this terribly sad time."

On 7 May, Sgt Ben Ross, 34, from 173 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment, Royal Military Police, and Cpl Kumar Pun, 31, from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, were killed by a suicide bomber during a patrol in Gereshk.

On the same day, Rifleman Adrian Sheldon, 25, from 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, was killed in an explosion near Sangin and Cpl Sean Binnie, 22, from the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland died in a fire fight with insurgents near Musa Qaleh.

Lt Mark Evison, 26, of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, who was shot on patrol in Afghanistan, died in the UK on 9 May after he was flown home for hospital treatment.