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Tributes are paid to young soldier from Comber

Tributes are paid to young soldier from Comber

TRIBUTES have been paid to the young soldier from Comber who was killed while serving in Afghanistan.

Corporal Channing Day, who was 25, had been serving with 3 Medical Regiment and had been working in support of Royal Marine Commandos.

She died after a patrol was involved in a shooting incident in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province. Royal Marine Commando David O’Connor was also killed in the incident.

A spokesman for the M.O.D. said the patrol had become engaged in an exchange of gunfire and that an investigation into the incident is being carried out.

The Comber woman had been stationed with her regiment near Catterick before being deployed to Afghanistan. She had been in the Army since 2005 and was a Combat Medical Technician.

The Day family have paid tribute to Channing.

In a statement they said: “Channing was bubbly, sporty, beautiful and lived her life for the Army. She has died doing what she lived for and in the life that she loved. She will be remembered by all who knew her as a wonderful girl who never stopped  smiling and who had an infectious laugh.

“Channing played football for Northern Ireland as well as ice hockey and also gained her qualification as a ski instructor through the Army. She was also the Northern Ireland Gymnastics Pairs Champion. A girl who lived her life to the full without ever giving up on her dreams.

“She was a fabulous daughter, sister, granddaughter, cousin, niece and friend. She will be so sadly missed by all.”

Senior Army officers have also paid tributes to the young soldier.

Her commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Phillip de Rouffignac, of 3 Medical Regiment, said Corporal Day had been a star for the future in the Army and whose experience in Iraq and Afghanistan had made her a natural choice  for the demanding role she was undertaking in support of 40 Commando Royal Marines.

Lt. Col. Rouffignac added: “Hugely popular with her friends in Preston, Catterick and in Afghanistan, Channing made the most of everything and had lived a lifetime in a short time. An Army footballer, she was a real team player in every sense. She will be sorely missed, and the thoughts of all our Regiment are with her family and friends at this difficult time.”

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