Tributes paid to Redditch soldier killed in Afghanistan
A MIDLANDS solider was among three paratroopers killed when a roadside bomb blew up their patrol vehicle in Afghanistan.
Lance Corporal Dale Hopkins, 23, from Redditch, was in a lightly-armoured vehicle in Helmand province when the explosion happened on Thursday.
Cpl Hopkins, along with two other soldiers, were all from The Parachute Regiment. The other soldiers who died were named as Corporal Kevin Mulligan, 26, who was the father of an unborn child and Private Kyle Adams, 21.
The three men were killed when their Jackal armoured vehicle was hit by an explosion north of Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province.
The men, who were working with special forces, were carrying out a routine security patrol with Afghan forces when the vehicle was struck by the blast and came under small arms fire.
A fourth member of the patrol was injured and was tonight in a critical condition.
It is understood that the men who died belonged to the recently-formed Special Forces Support Group (SFSG).
The SFSG, which was set up in April 2006, is largely made up of personnel from the Parachute Regiment, the Royal Marines and the RAF Regiment.
Its main role is to provide direct support for UK special forces missions, but it is also involved in domestic counter-terrorism operations.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, his family said: "Dale was a loving son and brother. He was a determined, energetic man who loved life.
"We are so very proud of him and all that he achieved.
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