8:52am Friday 3rd September 2010
A NORTH-EAST soldier killed by a bomb blast in Afghanistan laughed and joked with medics battling to save his life, an inquest heard yesterday.
Bomb disposal expert Sapper David Watson took the full force of a blast from an improvised explosive device (IED) set by insurgents as he tried to demolish a wall near Patrol Base Blenheim, in the Sangin region of Helmand province, on December 31.
The 23-year-old, from Whickham, Gateshead, had volunteered to help make safe the area surrounding the base on the Afghan front line.
The inquest heard that Sapper Watson laughed and joked with medics, even though he knew he was mortally wounded.
Known as The Leg, for his outstanding fitness and long limbs, Sapper Watson was part of a four-man conventional munitions disposal (CMD) team stationed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Jackson in Northern Helmand as part of the Operation Herrick counter improvised explosive device task force.
On December 31, his team was deployed to a smaller patrol base, Blenheim Compound, nearly two miles from the FOB, where he had been training soldiers in how to recognise and deal with IEDs.
Accompanied by a section from the 4 Rifles Mechanised Infantry regiment, the CMD left the smaller compound intending to demolish a series of low walls nearby, which were being used as firing positions by enemy forces.
Sapper Watson took up a sledgehammer and began breaking down one of the walls.
Gateshead coroner Terrence Carney said: ‘‘He quickly began to make an impression, but on his second or third swing an explosion occurred and he was seriously wounded.’’ Still conscious and cracking jokes with his rescuers, Sapper Watson was evacuated by quad bike to the patrol base and then by helicopter to the main British Army base in Afghanistan, Camp Bastion, in Lashkar Gah.
He suffered a heart attack and died in the operating theatre.
Recording a verdict of death due to unlawful killing while on active military service, Mr Carney said Sapper Watson had suffered irrecoverable blast injuries caused by the explosion.
His father Mal, who attended the inquest at Gateshead Civic Centre, did not wish to comment following the hearing.
But speaking shortly after his son’s death, he said: “He loved life itself and all of its challenges.
“David’s dry sense of humour combined with his ability to articulate any situation into a moment of laughter were two of his many talents. He was loved by all.”
Paying tribute shortly after his death, Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Bex, Royal Logistic Corps, commanding officer, Counter IED Task Force, said: ‘‘Sapper Watson was the epitome of a warrior: fearless, ruthlessly determined and a great team player.”
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