PHILIP WESTPhilip West, who died on 22 March, 2003, aged 32, was a patient and considerate man who was due to be married on his return from Iraq.Lieutenant West, of the Royal Navy's 849 Squadron, was killed when the Sea King helicopter he was travelling in collided with another helicopter over the northern Arabian Gulf. Five other members of 849 Squadron and a US naval officer were killed in the accident.He lived in Budock Water, near Falmouth in Cornwall, with his fiancée, Nicky, a nurse at Treliske Hospital in Truro.He was stationed at the Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose, in Cornwall.LieutenantW est, known as "Stretch" because he was 6ft 4ins tall, grew up in Carlisle before moving to Hoylake on the Wirral at the age of 10.At the age of 18, he went to Salford University where he joined the University Royal Naval Unit and his involvement with the unit led to him deciding on a career in the Royal Navy.After he graduated, Lieutenant West joined Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, in 1992 and commenced officer training.It had always been an ambition of his to fly and following Sea King Observer Training he was awarded his wings in 1994.He was deployed on HMS Invincible in the Adriatic in 1996 and received a campaign medal for his service.He met Nicky in 1998 and the couple had recently bought a barn which they were converting into a home. Both of their families were looking forward to their forthcoming marriage.Since settling in Cornwall Lieutenant West had, much to the amusement of his family, begun to embrace country life and had recently, under the tutelage of his father-in-law, Steve, taken up golf.The accident in which Lieutenant West was killed occurred as the helicopters undertook surveillance work for British forces in the al-Faw peninsular.Lieutenan t West was admired by his colleagues for his professionalism and attention to detail as well as his friendliness and unfailing good humour.The Squadron's commanding officer said: "Rest in peace in the knowledge that your professionalism, dedication and ultimate sacrifice will never go unrecognised or be forgotten."
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