A British soldier killed in a suicide blast while on patrol in Afghanistan has been named as WO2 Ian Michael Fisher from The 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Staffords).
Sergeant Major Fisher, 42, who worked for a company of Warrior fighting vehicles, died from an explosion during a vehicle-borne suicide attack.
During a meeting with Afghan National Security Forces, his vehicle was struck by ‘a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device’.
WO2 Fisher leaves his wife, Emma, two sons, James, seven, and William, five, and his parents, Simon and Helen.
Paying tribute, Emma said: “Ian will always be the centre of my life, he will be remembered as a doting father, loving husband and a true professional soldier.
“He loved being a soldier, that’s what he lived for. We are all so proud and always will be.”
The MoD said WO2 Fisher’s colleagues described him as “the epitome of an infantry Sergeant Major, straight talking and obsessive in his pursuit of excellence and gaining the most from his subordinates while ensuring their wellbeing”.
The death takes to 446 the number of UK service members who have lost their lives since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001 and is the eighth this year.