01/08/2013

Inquest Finds Soldier Killed By His Own Grenade

An inquest has found that a soldier was killed by his own grenade during an enemy attack in Afghanistan.

In June last year, L/Cpl James Ashworth (23), from Corby, Northamptonshire, was killed as he stormed an insurgent position in Nahr-e-Saraj in Helmand Province.

The inquest into his death found he died after a shot hit his body armour and detonated a grenade he was carrying. It is understood that he was preparing to throw the grenade at an enemy sniper.

The inquest ruled his death unlawfully.

L/Cpl Ashworth was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery, making him "one of only 10 soldiers to receive the highest honour for gallantry since the Second World War", according to the BBC.

(MH/CD)

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