Inquest Into Death Of Sussex Soldier

An inquest will be held today on a soldier who died in hospital two days after being caught in a bomb blast in Afghanistan.

Private Daniel Prior died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in March last year after being wounded while serving with 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.

Pte Prior, originally from Peacehaven, East Sussex, deployed to Afghanistan in October 2010 and was injured by an improvised explosive device in a village in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

The married 27-year-old, normally stationed in Colchester, had returned to the UK during his tour of duty for the birth of his son, Logan.

In tributes to the Brighton-born soldier issued shortly after his death, his comrades described him as immensely popular with all those who knew and worked alongside him.

It also emerged that Pte Prior's uncle - a member of the same battalion and regiment - was killed at the Battle of Goose Green during the Falklands War.

In a statement paying tribute to Pte Prior, the battalion's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Harrison, said: ``This bright, inspiring and able paratrooper knew the risks of war more than almost anyone.

``Every one of the thousand troops in this Battle Group will mourn this irreplaceable loss.''

The inquest, being held at Birmingham Coroner's Court, is expected to last for one day.