Squadron Leader Ant Downing

A member of an RAF mountain rescue team has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence announced that Squadron Leader Anthony Downing was one of two men in a vehicle caught in a blast south of Kabul on 22 December.

Sqn Ldr Downing, known as Ant, died of his wounds at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham the following day.

The 34-year-old officer was a member of the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team. Group Captain Robbie Noel who was station commander at the Moray base at the time Sqn Ldr Downing was serving there and knew him personally, said: “A stalwart of the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team, his dedication and passion for supporting others were characteristic of a hugely popular, and deeply respected and loved friend and colleague.”

Warrant Officer Chris Miles who also served with him, said: “Outside of work he was an outstanding athlete, a passionate mountaineer and an adventurous traveller whose sheer energy and enthusiasm for life knew no bounds.”

Sqn Ldr Downing was an engineering officer in the RAF. He ran the last Nimrod Line Squadron before its disbandment. He also studied at the Defence School of Languages, Beaconsfield, coming top of his language course, and travelled to Tajikistan in his own time to further his studies. He took part in a series of Iron Man triathlons and ultramarathons.

Captain Tom Jennings of the Royal Marines, whose death was announced separately by the Ministry of Defence, had been travelling in the same vehicle in Afghanistan.

Further tributes to the RAF officer came from Sqn Ldr Paul Lipscomb, officer commanding, mountain rescue service at RAF Kinloss, who said: “Ant’s unbeatable enthusiasm inspired others to ‘climb well above their grade’ and succeed in all tasks; or at least, in the face of failure, to earn the bragging rights to an epic hill day.

“He is a one of the best examples of the courage and commitment that has typified RAF mountain rescue team members for nearly 70 years.

“He was also a good friend, who I had hoped would succeed me as the commanding officer and his infectious sense of adventure would have strengthened and enriched it for all.

“I have been lucky enough to know Ant Downing for over 10 years, first as an engineer and then more true to his spirit as a mountaineer, and in the same way as if he had died in an avalanche or a fall helping others in the mountains, then I can draw some comfort in knowing that he died doing something that he enjoyed and chose to do, what’s more he will have made a positive difference to all those he worked with.”

Sergeant Ed Jones, deputy team leader of the mountain rescue service at RAF Kinloss, added: “Ant quickly showed himself to be an exemplary team member who inspired all with his great fitness and endurance.

“Mountain rescue work is by its nature demanding but not for Ant who would often, even after a challenging weekend, cycle from a remote bothy back to Kinloss just for extra training.

“Once when recovering from an injury that kept him off the mountains he cycled 220km so as not to lose any fitness. Often the training was for a competition in which he regularly took part.

“These included several Iron Men along with a 24-hour endurance event in which he helped raise £6,000 for Breast Cancer UK. For many these events would be enough in themselves but for Ant they were just another adventure for he was a true adventurer at heart.

“He had travelled extensively round the world and we had many a long conversation about places we had been and wished to go. Ant completed many of his trips alone showing great self-reliance, determination and trust in his fellow man. On one epic journey he cycled across America despite having to put up with searing heat and swerving juggernauts.

“Perhaps Ant’s greatest strength was his humility, before joining the RAF he was a volunteer for the Samaritans, often helping others in their darkest hours. He was rarely interested in rank or status being more concerned with the person and often encouraged others to achieve things they previously thought impossible.”

Corporal Dave Gleave, party leader in the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team, said: “Ant was a friend, leader and above all a gentleman.

“He possessed the ability to inspire and the confidence to make anything seem possible. His only obvious weakness was a total dependency on tea.

Knowing Ant was just to be part of the adventure that was his life, most chapters of which seem to start with, ‘I’ve got an idea’ and end mildly hypothermic clutching a brew.

“He died living part of that adventure.”

There are four teams in the RAF mountain rescue service, based at RAF Valley on Anglesey, RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, RAF Leuchars in Fife and RAF Kinloss in Moray. All team members are volunteers drawn from the force.

Sqn Ldr Downing’s family said: “We treasure the memories and the achievements of his fantastic life and without him our lives have been diminished.”