Family and friends have paid tribute to a “first class” soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan last week.

Corporal Jason Barnes was in the north of Helmand province when the ambulance he was driving hit a roadside bomb, the Ministry of Defence said.

Cpl Barnes, who was based at RAF Odiham for three years, was returning to base after helping to rescue an injured colleague.

His wife Diana said her “loving husband” would be “sadly missed”.

Cpl Barnes, an engineer with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), was an armourer who worked on Special Forces helicopters at RAF Odiham until February this year.

The 25-year-old, originally from Exeter, trained at the REME school of electrical and mechanical engineering at Bordon before taking up his first posting with the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment in 2001.

Eight-year career

He was based at RAF Odiham from May 2005 as part of 657 Squadron Army Air Corps, a special forces unit at the base operating Lynx helicopters.

Cpl Barnes was deployed to Afghanistan in February, where he was attached to the Parachute Regiment.

His commanding officer, Major Grant Haywood, paid tribute to Cpl Barnes’ “natural charm, dry wit and a real zest for life”.

“He died as he lived, placing others first and doing what he wanted to do, so well, without fear or complaint,” Major Haywood said.

“Nothing exemplifies this more than the last moments before his passing where he helped to save the life of a colleague who was critically injured. He will be truly missed by all here and our thoughts are with his wife, family and friends.”

Cpl Barnes had also served in the Balkans and Iraq during his eight-year army career.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said: “My thoughts are with the family and friends of Cpl Jason Barnes at this most difficult time.

“He was clearly a dedicated soldier and family man with an enthusiasm for life.

“He was making a real difference in Afghanistan and he will be sorely missed by colleagues from across the Army.”