Family says Shropshire-based soldier died in accident

A Shropshire-based soldier killed in Afghanistan was accidentally shot by a comrade, his family has said.

Ranger David Dalzell, of 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, based at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, died on Friday.

Military chiefs called the incident that claimed his life an "operational accident" in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province.

After claims that the 20 year old may have been shot while he and a fellow soldier cleaned their rifles, his devastated family from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, expressed their concern for the soldier who may have fired the fatal shot.

"There has been speculation about the phrase 'operational accident' which has caused questions about how our son died," they said in a statement. "David died after being accidentally shot by another soldier, having returned to base from a patrol.

"We do not know exactly what happened, just that our son was fatally wounded. As well as our huge loss which has devastated the family, the other soldier must also be suffering and our thoughts are with him as well."

The Ministry of Defence said the details of the circumstances surrounding Ranger Dalzell's death would be heard in an inquest.