Three Royal Marines have died in three days after being attacked in Sangin, Helmand province — the most dangerous area of Afghanistan.
Marine Richard Hollington, 23, became the 300th British victim of the campaign in Afghanistan when he died on Sunday after sustaining injuries in an explosion on June 12, according to the MoD. Two other Marines were killed in the following days. Their next of kin have been informed but their identities have not yet been released to the wider public.
The family of Marine Hollington, who had been evacuated to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital near Birmingham, were at his bedside when he died. They said in a statement: ““What can we say that hasn’t been said so many times before and will be repeated so many times to come? Richard will leave a huge numbing hole in the lives of his family, friends and Royal Marine colleagues.
“The saying goes, ‘It is better to live one day as a lion than your whole life as a worm’. He chose to live his days as a lion . . . he was the biggest, if softest, lion in the pride. How proud of him we all are.”
His organs were donated after his death, in accordance with his wishes.
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The commanding officer of 40 Commando, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul James, described Marine Hollington as “a magnificent Marine, a bright, talented, determined” man who had also been a semi-professional footballer in his teens for Fareham Town Football Club. “He had a lot to be proud of, yet I knew him to be an affable, generous, loyal and modest young man.”
Marine Hollington, who was unmarried, leaves his parents and two younger brothers.
Major Mark Totten, officer commanding Marine Hollington’s company, described him as a hugely optimistic individual.
“With an irrepressible sense of fun and lust for life, Dickie was always at the seat of laughter and his passing has left a tremendous void amongst his companions in Bravo Company. He constantly buoyed those around him with his sharp wit and love of friendly debate. Men like Dickie are pure gold.
“His optimism was infectious and probably best highlighted by his 100 per cent certainty in recent days that England would win the World Cup.”
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Marine Hollington had been the lead man in his unit on patrol, a position of additional responsibility and additional risk.
Sangin has seen the heaviest losses for British troops in the past year. Only 0.8 per cent of Nato troops operate around the town, but the area produces more than 10 per cent of all casualties suffered by Western forces.