MOVING tributes were last night being paid to a heroic soldier from the region who was killed in Afghanistan while trying to rescue comrades in a bombed vehicle.

Craftsman Andrew Found, a married father-of-two, died in an explosion while on an operation targeting insurgents in the northern Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

During the operation early on Thursday a Warthog - a tracked armoured vehicle - struck a roadside explosive device, which disabled it and injured the crew.

Craftsman Found, 27, was assessing the damage to the vehicle when he was caught by a second explosion in which he was fatally wounded.

Craftsman Found, who came from Whitby, was member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers who was serving with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. He stood 6ft 6ins tall and was described as a "gentle giant" by colleagues.

His commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Biggart said Craftsman Found died doing the job he loved.

"He was coming to the rescue of his squadron comrades to recover a Warthog armoured vehicle damaged in an earlier blast," he said.

"Right up until his final moments, the example he set, together with his wit, kept his fellow soldiers going under very difficult and demanding conditions. His sacrifice was in the finest traditions of both his corps and his regiment."

Squadron commander Major Jonathan Williamson added: "He was dismounted and assessing the damage, and typically doing so without a thought for his own safety.

"It is testament to his bravery that despite having been involved in previous improvised explosive device events he was still one of the first on the scene of this blast."

Craftsman Found joined the REME as a recovery mechanic in 2003. He and his wife Samantha had one son and he was also the father of another son from a previous relationship.

His grieving widow spoke proudly yesterday when she said: "You're my husband, my best friend and are my world. I cannot explain my pain and the hole you have left in all our lives."

His parents Jennifer and Alan together with his brother Simon added: "Andrew died doing the job he loved.

"Even though we are all in pain now, we will remember the fun, the laughter and all the love he brought to all the people he knew and loved."