A CHESTER-BASED soldier has been killed in Afghanistan after his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device, or IED.

Captain Stephen James Healey, 29, from 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh, based at Dale Barracks, was killed in Helmand Province on Saturday, .

Capt Healey, who deployed to Afghanistan in March, was given first aid before being flown to the military hospital at Camp Bastion, where his death was later confirmed.

Prior to joining the Army in 2007, the Cardiff-born soldier was a semi-professional footballer who had an apprenticeship with Swansea City. He continued to play while completing a degree in sports science at Swansea University.

But his footballing career was cut short after he suffered a number of injuries.

Capt Healey served a number of tours as a soldier and in 2009 was mentioned in dispatches for his actions during a deployment to Afghanistan.

In 2010 he spoke about how he survived after the vehicle he was in was hit by an IED, with the force of the blast snapping a couple of the machine guns in half.

Last year, he was selected to lead a platoon on the tour in Helmand province.

Capt Healey leaves behind his father John, mother Kerry, brother Simon and girlfriend Thea.

Capt Healey’s family paid the following tribute: “Stephen was all you could wish for in a son, brother, uncle and friend. He will be sadly missed by us all. He managed to do more in his 30 years than most people do in a lifetime.”

His girlfriend Thea paid her own tribute: “Stephen will always be in my heart. I will miss him so much, he was my love, my life and my everything. Now he rests in peace, he was living the life he wanted to do with his men.”

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Webb MC, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, said: “Capt Healey will be remembered by the officers and soldiers of 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh as one of the most charismatic and professional leaders any of us will have had the privilege of serving with.”

Earlier this year, Capt Healey organised a charity event, raising money for Blind Veterans UK by walking blindfolded from the barracks in Chester to Llandudno.