A SOLDIER died as a result of “tragic bad luck” during a Taliban firefight in Afghanistan, a coroner said.

Private Jason Lee Rawstron of 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment had been defending a British military compound in Helmand Province when he was struck in the left eye on September 12, 2008.

The 23-year-old former Moorhead High School pupil, of Clayton-le-Moors, was a rifleman in C Section whose duty at that time was to restrict the movement of the Taliban.

An inquest at Blackburn Town Hall yesterday heard that the troops had only arrived at their compound the night before Pte Rawstron’s death, and their view was restricted by 10ft maize crops.

About 8am, reports filtered through that an unknown man had entered the area and warning shots were fired by soldiers on the roof of the compound.

Major Adam Dawson, commanding officer of C section, told the inquest: “No more than 15 minutes later we received a burst of machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades from about 94 metres away and we returned fire.

“Most of the rocket-fired grenades were going over our heads and then there was a lull in firing.”

Pte Rawstron’s platoon commander, Corporal Scott Bourne, told the inquest they had both been in a ditch protecting the perimetre fence.

He said: “We got down to take cover. We saw that none of the incoming rounds were hitting the wall behind us.”

“At this stage the troops in the ditch did not fire back because they were unable to positively identify the enemy.

Cpl Bourne added: “Then I heard shouts of 'man down, casualty’. Pte Rawstron was lying on the floor of the ditch on his back.”

Cpl Bourne and other soldiers tried to find a pulse but were unable to, then medical technician Corporal John Healy was called to the scene.

He said: “Pte Rawstron was lying on his side in what I can only describe as an unnatural position.”

He added: “I removed his helmet and sunglasses to examine the injury and tried to open his airways, but there was no evidence of breathing. I just shook my head.”

Dr Nicolas Hunt, the pathologist who carried out the inquest, said Pte Rawstron's death was caused by “devestating injuries to his head.”

He said: “The bullet struck Pte Rawstron in his left eye, which then passed downwards at a 45 degree angle and was recovered in his asophagus at the back of his neck.”

He added: “He would have collapsed unconsious with death following very quickly.

“No amount of medical assistance, no matter how skilled, could have saved his life and there was nothing his colleagues could have done to save him.”

Coroner Michael Singleton recorded the death as caused by a single gun shot to the head.

“What happened was that Taliban forces fired randomly towards the compound that members of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment were protecting,” he said.

“It is nothing more than tragic bad luck that Private Rawstron was struck.”

“I was touched with reagrds to this man’s death, so much so that I made my own journey to the national arboretum to pay my own final respects. I am awestruck by the professionalism and bravery of our armed forces.”

Pte Rawstron joined the Army in October 2005.

Following his death the Lancashire Telegraph reported how his colleagues described him as “one of the army’s finest”.

Lieutenant Murray McMahon said: “He was without a doubt the most loyal and enthusiastic soldier I have ever known.”