A Royal Marine has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence says.
The member of 40 Commando Royal Marines was killed while on a foot patrol in Sangin, Helmand Province, this morning.
The death take the total number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan to 285.
Next of kin have been informed and asked for a period of grace before further details were released, an MoD spokesperson said.
Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, said: "He was part of a foot patrol in an operation which was being conducted in support of the Afghan National Army when he was struck by an explosion.
"He died in the course of his duty, seeking to provide reassurance and security to the local nationals in Sangin. He will be sorely missed and his sacrifice will not be forgotten."
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