Hero soldier killed in Afghanistan was planning marriage

The girlfriend of a soldier killed preventing scores of people dying in Afghanistan has since found out that he was planning to marry her.

L/Cpl David Kirkness, 24, died on Tuesday with Rifleman James Brown, 18, trying to stop bombers attacking a marketplace.

Mel Maclean, 31, said David's letters had talked of a surprise and his mum has since revealed he was going to ask her to marry him on holiday next year.


Tearful Mel, joined by his parents Chris and Margaret, said it felt "really special. In the short time we were together it was wonderful".

Mel, of Morley, West Yorks, who last spoke to him on Sunday, said: "He's a hero. Everything was great between us. We'd planned a lovely future."

Mum Margaret said: "I want to remember him for what he's done. He's given his life to save a hell of a lot of people. You just had to love him, you couldn't not."

Source:mirror.co.uk/