AN Oxfordshire bomb disposal expert who was killed in Afghanistan was today hailed as the "the epitome of a hero” at an inquest into his death.

Warrant Officer Gary O'Donnell, 40, of the Royal Logistic Corps, died as he approached an explosive device near Musa Qala in Helmand Province in September last year.

WO2 O’Donnell, who was based at Vauxhall Barracks in Didcot, was awarded a second George Medal posthumously in March.

Speaking after today's inquest hearing, WO2 O'Donnell's widow Toni said it "meant the world" to hear of the respect and admiration her husband commanded.

She said: "He was very brave. I know how brave he was now. He kept it to himself. I think he put it to the back his mind how dangerous it was.

"He got on with it. He knew what he had to do and he knew how to do it.

"He was good at it and he loved it.

"It's nice to know he was respected and everybody liked him."

Fighting back tears, she paid tribute to a "loving and wonderful husband and a great father", adding: "When he walked into the room you knew he was there.

"He played the guitar, he sang, he was a great family man. He was Gary. There's nothing more you could say.

"He was wonderful."

WO2 O'Donnell died after being called to a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which he attempted to dismantle, as he had done with another earlier that day.

Minutes later, army colleagues heard the explosion that killed him instantly.

Corporal Andrew James Cobb of the Royal Signals, said: "I was immensely proud to have worked with him."

Speaking after today's hearing, Captain Michael Webb of the Royal Logistics Corps, part of the same unit as WO2 O'Donnell, said: "Every time he was on the ground removing a device he, without a doubt, saved lives. He was the epitome of a hero."

Cpt Webb said WO2 O'Donnell's two George Medals were "a spectacular acknowledgement of how brave he was", adding: "To be awarded it twice is extraordinary. The last person to do that was in the early 1980s and he was also in the same trade as Gary.

"It's not common to get one, let alone two."

Warwickshire coroner Sean McGovern recorded a verdict that WO2 O'Donnell died from blast wounds caused by an explosion while on active service as a member of the armed forces.