Two servicemen killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday died from a “friendly-fire” incident, the Ministry of Defence disclosed yesterday.

Captain Tom Sawyer, 26, of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, and Corporal Danny Winter, 28, of 45 Commando Royal Marines, were killed during a mortar-firing operation involving other British troops in Helmand province.

A full investigation is now under way, although atrocious weather conditions are making it difficult to start the inquiry.

There have been previous incidents of friendly-fire deaths in Afghanistan but normally involving mistaken aircraft strikes. In August 2007, three British soldiers were killed in Helmand after an American F15E jet fighter dropped a 500lb bomb on their position.

In the latest “blue-on-blue”, the two men were taking part in a joint operation with a Danish battle group and the Afghan National Army northeast of Gereshk in central Helmand.

They were both members of a mortar fire support team involved in an operation to clear compounds in a Taleban stronghold. There was an explosion, possibly caused by a faulty mortar round. Two other members of the team were injured. Defence sources said that other coalition members were not involved in the incident.

Captain Sawyer, who was attached to Zulu Company 45 Commando, came from Hertfordshire and married his wife Katy in March last year. “Captain Sawyer died a hero doing a job he loved and whilst taking the fight to the enemy,” Lieutenant-Colonel Neil Wilson, commanding officer of 29 Commando Royal Artillery, said.

Corporal Winter, serving with the mortar troop of Zulu Company 45 Commando, lived in Stockport. “Brave, committed and extremely determined, he was killed right in the forefront of an operation,” Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Morris, commanding officer of 45 Commando, said.

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