THE heartbroken family of Queen’s Guard Sergeant Gavin Hillier who was killed in a firing exercise have said “we’re not ready to say goodbye”.
The Iraq war veteran was fatally wounded during a live firing exercise in Wales on Thursday night.
Sgt Hillier, 35, had served almost two decades in the elite Welsh Guards regiment and deployed to Afghanistan and Kosovo.
The MoD released his name on Saturday, once his next of kin had been informed.
Sgt Hillier, who received a long service and good conduct medal from Prince Charles, was killed on Thursday night at the Castlemartin ranges in Pembrokeshire.
He was taking part in a night firing exercise ahead of a planned deployment to Iraq.
He is the fourth person to die at the Castlemartin RAC Range in the past nine years.
In a tribute posted online Sergeant Hillier's wife Karyn Hillier said: “I thank you for the day you came into my life and made me your wife and became the father to our two beautiful boys.
Daddy we are not ready to say goodbye just yet so until we meet again, we love you always.
"We are absolutely heartbroken and can't express how proud we are of you. Our boys will continue to make you proud and you will forever live on through them.
"Daddy we are not ready to say goodbye just yet so until we meet again, we love you always.
"Love your heartbroken wife and boys.”
Sergeant Hiller's mother, Karen Selway, and her partner also said how "proud" they were of him. In a tribute, they said: "You made me so proud of you from the day you were born and we will be proud for always.
"Rest in peace my son you will always be my little boy.”
His comrades paid tribute to an “awesome soldier” and his dad, Mark, said his son died doing the job he loved.
In a heart-breaking message on Facebook his dad wrote: “Absolutely devastated to be writing this post, probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
“At 3.45am this morning I received a phone call that will forever change my life.
“My eldest son Gavin Mark Hillier was in a fatal accident in the army, the job he loved.
“Sleep tight and rest in peace son. I’m so proud of you. Goodnight and God bless. love you’re heartbroken dad xxx.”
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