Sutton Coldfield soldier relives death of friend Rob Deering in Afghanistan
A BRAVE soldier has told how he saw his best friend and commander blown up in front of him in Afghanistan.
Corporal Rob Deering died while serving with the Commando Logistics Regiment just before Christmas 2008.
The 33-year-old, from Sheldon, Birmingham, was walking towards an armoured vehicle which had been crippled by an improvised explosive device, when he stepped on a secondary bomb – killing him instantly.
Trooper Michael Lally, 21, from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, was with Rob the day he died, and has spoken for the first time about Cpl Deering’s tragic death.
“It was very distressing,” Michael, who now serves with the Queens Royal Hussars, said. “He was walking along when he stepped on a footplate.
“He was blown to pieces right there in front of me. It was horrible, totally horrible.
“There was nothing we could do to help him.”
The incident left Michael suffering from post traumatic stress, but he says the support he got from the army helped with to come to terms with what he saw.
“It was terrible because Rob was a mate,” the squaddie said.
