Afghan blast soldier found hanged

A soldier who survived a massive roadside bomb blast while driving a light tank in Afghanistan has been found hanged while home on leave.

Trooper Robert Griffiths, 24, was one of three soldiers who walked away unhurt from a potentially deadly roadside blast in November 2011.

The soldier, with the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, later described surviving the blast from the improvised explosive device (IED) as a "buzz".

At the time he was driving an upgraded 35 ton Scimitar Mk2 light tank, boasting new heavy armour, on routine patrol in Nahr-e Saraj, Afghanistan.

Trooper Griffiths, who serves in what is known as the Welsh cavalry, went on to praise the role the new Scimitar played in protecting them.

He was found hanging at his parents' home in the pretty Gower village of Bishopston, near Swansea, south Wales, last Saturday evening.

South Wales Police have confirmed they are investigating the death of a 24-year-old man at the location. A spokesman said the soldier's family had been informed and the death was not being treated as suspicious.

"Police are investigating the death of a soldier who was serving with 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards," an Army spokesman told BBC Wales online. "Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time," he added.

Trooper Griffiths finished a gruelling seven month tour of duty in Afghanistan in April last year.

His regiment is based in barracks in Paderborn, Germany, but he was back in the UK on leave over the Christmas period.