Soldier died in roadside bombing

A soldier was unlawfully killed in Iraq when a bomb blew a hole the "size of a fist" in an armoured vehicle he was driving, a coroner has ruled.

Lance Corporal Ryan "Franky" Francis, 23, of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, died instantly north of Basra in July 2007.

Wiltshire coroner David Masters told the inquest in Trowbridge there were no protective measures that could have saved his life.

The Royal Welsh soldier's father thanked those who tried to save him.

The inquest at Trowbridge town hall heard that L/Cpl Francis was driving one of four Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, in a patrol of six vehicles, dispatched to clear the route for a strike mission, Operation Black Lightning.

Its aim was to defeat insurgents who had attacked British and Iraqi security forces

A Warrior ahead of his vehicle experienced engine trouble and pulled over.

As L/Cpl Francis overtook the stationary vehicle, the improvised explosive device (IED) detonated.

"I just want to give my thanks to everyone who tried to save Ryan's life"
L/Cpl Ryan Francis's father

Sergeant Kelly Peters, vehicle commander in L/Cpl Francis's Warrior, told Mr Masters: "As the vehicle moved round that's when the explosion happened. It was pretty big.

"There was dust everywhere, because obviously we were working in the desert. Everything went black.

"I could hear my gunner screaming. Once the dust settled, there was a call from the back 'was everyone all right'.

"We tried to call for L/Cpl Francis but he didn't answer. I was hoping it was the communications damaged."

Sgt Peters said the vehicle was protected with electronic counter security measures (ECM) and enhanced electronic security measures (EECM) - designed to detect IEDs.

Small arms fire

But he told the coroner the EECM was turned off, as surrounding troops would interfere with its mechanism, and this was common practice.

After the IED detonated, the patrol came under attack from small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades as they waited for assistance.

Pte William Thomas, who was travelling in the vehicle behind, told the inquest how he rushed to the aid of L/Cpl Francis.

He wrestled for three to four minutes to try to pull him from the vehicle, but the soldier's armour and legs were trapped in the hatch.

The coroner said: "At no time was there any response from him. You tried to do this for three to four minutes."

Later in the hearing Mr Francis's father broke down in tears as he thanked the soldiers for their efforts to save his son's life.

"I just want to give my thanks to everyone who tried to save Ryan's life," he said.

"I know they risked their lives to save him. I just want to thank all of you."

L/Cpl Francis was certified dead at hospital. A post-mortem examination confirmed he had died from blast wounds caused by an explosion.

He was on his third tour of Iraq and a part of the battle group's elite "Recce" platoon.

After his death, his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel James Swift described him as "the heart and soul" of the platoon.

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