DEAD SQUADDIE NAMED

First picture of British soldier Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington who was killed in suspected accident in Iraq

Ministry of Defence is 'investigating' death of serviceperson from 2nd Batt. Duke of Lancaster's Reg.

Published: 21:18, 2 Jan 2017
Updated: 18:42, 3 Jan 2017

Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington,

THIS is the first photo of a British soldier killed in a suspected accident in Iraq on New Year's Day.

He has been named as young dad Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington.

First picture of Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington, who died in Iraq — First picture of Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington, who died in IraqCredit: Ministry of Defence

British troops taking part in a military operation in Iraq — British troops taking part in a military operation in IraqCredit: Getty Images

The young 2 Lancs squaddie - who became a dad with partner Savannah Brown last year - died of gunshot wounds at his base in Taji.

Sources said LCpl Hetherington's death was not as a result of suicide or enemy action.

Investigators are now probing the possibility he was hit by a negligent discharge - when a weapon is fired by accident.

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A source said: "Its tragic for his family and the unit, but it is still early days for the investigation.

"One line of inquiry is the possibility that someone made a mistake."

The Army hope to name LCpl Hetherington and supply an official photo at some point this afternoon.

It is the first time a British soldier has died in Iraq in nearly eight years.

The serviceperson from the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment was killed in an "incident" that is being investigated by the Ministry of Defence.

In a sparse statement, a spokesperson confirmed the death in the town of Taji was not the result of enemy activity.

Taji sits around 100 miles northwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad

The soldier's identity has not yet been revealed at the request of the family, they said.

British soldiers are stationed in the town, which sits about 100 miles northwest of the capital Baghdad, providing training for Iraqi troops.

Ryan Wrathall, 21, from Surbiton in southwest London was the last British soldier to die in Iraq.

The Private from the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment took his own life at a base in Basra in February 2009.

He had been suffering from depression brought on by learning of his father's terminal illness, an inquest found.

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