Soldier dies after Taleban attack

L/Cpl Paul Muirhead was described as "widely respected"

A soldier from Warwickshire has died from his wounds following an attack on his army base in Afghanistan.

L/Cpl Paul Muirhead, 29, of 1 Royal Irish Regiment, had been injured in a Taleban attack in Musa Quala in Helmand Province on 1 September.

A second soldier also died in the attack. The parents of L/Cpl Muirhead, who was from Bearley, were at his bedside when he died on Wednesday.

His mother, Violet Claydon, said her son "loved life and loved his family".

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the second dead soldier's identity as Ranger Anare Draiva, also of 1 Royal Irish Regiment.

I have spoken today to our other troops in Afghanistan - their morale remains high Lt Col McGovern, commanding officer

Mrs Claydon said she was struggling to come to terms with the news of her son's death.

"He loved everybody," she said.

"It's so hard to actually come to terms with it.

"He loved his life and loved his family and loved playing with his nieces.

"He was very close to his friends in the regiment."

'Quiet exterior'

L/Cpl Muirhead had served in the invasion of Iraq, in Northern Ireland and again in Iraq before being posted to Afghanistan.

His commanding officer, Lt Col Michael McGovern, said: "L/Cpl Muirhead was a calm, confident and determined member of the Patrols Platoon.

"A quiet exterior belied a character who was renowned for looking after the younger, less experienced soldiers. He was widely respected across the battalion."

He said the battalion was "deeply saddened" by the death of the two soldiers and its thoughts were with their friends and families.

"I have spoken today to our other troops in Afghanistan - their morale remains high and they are determined to get on with the job and ensure that the loss of their friends and comrades will not be in vain," Col McGovern said.

The 1 Royal Irish Regiment is part of the 16 Air Assault Brigade which is the lead British Military Formation in southern Afghanistan.

The region has witnessed an intense campaign by Taleban fighters during which a number of British troops have been killed.