British Soldier Was 'One In A Million'

The family of a Grenadier Guards soldier who died from wounds suffered in Afghanistan says the guardsman's young daughter has lost "her number one man".

Guardsman Karl Whittle, 22, died in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Friday after being shot when his checkpoint was attacked by insurgents in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province on August 14.

Raised in Bristol, the member of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards was described as one of his company's "leading lights".

His family said in a statement: "Karl was one in a million. He was a proud and caring man who took pride in whatever he did. The family are obviously devastated.

"Karl was the light of many lives and touched all who knew him. He will be especially missed by his baby daughter Grace, who has lost her number one man."

Lieutenant Colonel James Bowder MBE, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, said: "Guardsman Whittle was one of our very best.

"A great soldier and a young man of rare character, he was destined to go a very long way in the Army. Big, strong and full of fight, he battled hard against his injuries right to the very end.

"His loss has been keenly felt in a close Battalion, and our prayers are with his family at this most difficult of times."

Guardsman Whittle joined the Army in 2009 and had been deployed in Afghanistan since April this year.

Guardsman Whittle is the 32nd member of the armed forces to die in Afghanistan in 2012 and the 426th since operations began in the country in October 2001.