A PROBE into the death of a British soldier from suspected “friendly fire“ was under way today.
The move came as troops fought to gain control of Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan.
Kingsman Sean Dawson, 19, from 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, was killed while taking part in an ambush of suspected militants in the Musa Qala area of Helmand province on Sunday.
In a statement the Ministry of Defence said: “Early indications suggest that his death was possibly caused as a result of ‘friendly fire’.”
The MoD said no more comment would be made before an inquest.
The teenager, from Stalybridge, Manchester, was described as “an English fighter extraordinaire” and his family has been made aware of the probe. He was the second dead British soldier to be named.
Sapper Guy Mellors, 20 a bomb disposal expert from 36 Engineer Regiment, died on Monday near Sangin while dealing with a roadside bomb.
Both deaths were unrelated to Operation Moshtarak, the MoD said – the huge effort to drive the Taliban from strongholds around Marjah and Nad-e-Ali.
Kingsman Dawson’s father, also called Sean, said his death would leave a hole in the lives of everyone who knew him. He said his son “loved everything about the Army – it was his life”.
Sapper Mellors, from Coventry, was described as an “outstanding searcher” by his commanding officer.
A total of 261 British service personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2001.
Major General Nick Carter, the British commander of Nato forces in southern Afghanistan, said Operation Moshtarak had secured about three-quarters of the former Taliban stronghold in Nad-e-Ali.