2 weeks ago
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The Royal Navy has named the serviceman killed successful a night-flying grooming workout successful the English Channel connected 4 September arsenic Lt Rhodri Leyshon.
Lt Leyshon’s household released a connection connected Friday saying helium was “immeasurably loved by his parents, siblings, partner, friends and household and helium was devoted to them".
A Merlin Mk4 chopper Lt Leyshon was successful ditched - a deliberate exigency landing connected h2o - with 3 servicemen connected committee connected Wednesday adjacent Dorset, the Navy said.
Defence Secretary John Healey said an probe into the mishap had already started.
"We are each truthful precise arrogant of the talented, passionate, beardown and loyal antheral helium was. We volition ever person him successful our hearts. Our fantastic boy," the household said.
"Our lives volition ne'er beryllium the aforesaid without him."
The 2 different serviceman connected committee the chopper astatine the clip of the incidental were not earnestly injured.
Lt Leyshon joined the Wales University Royal Naval Unit, which trains students, successful 2010 and was commissioned into the Royal Navy successful 2014. He undertook flying training, specialising arsenic a Commando Aviator, and completed a fig of overseas deployments, including to the Caribbean, USA and Norway.
For the past 18 months, Lt Leyshon had served successful 846 Naval Air Squadron. The Navy said helium was 1 of the Commando Helicopter Force’s “most trusted and highly susceptible craft captains and instructors, having honed his skills undertaking immoderate of Defence’s astir specializer aviation tasks".
Colonel Mark Johnson, Commanding Officer of Commando Helicopter Force astatine Yeovilton, said successful a statement: “It’s immensely bittersweet that we mislaid 1 of our family.”
“Lt Leyshon was a consummate nonrecreational and a shining airy with a agleam future. He epitomised our squad tone and his nonaccomplishment leaves a immense spread successful each our hearts."
Air Vice-Marshal Alastair Smith, Commander of Joint Aviation Command, said helium had flown with Lt Leyshon a fewer days agone and attested to his professionalism arsenic a aviator and his warmth arsenic a character.
“He volition beryllium sorely missed,” helium said.
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