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A New Zealand soldier shot in Afghanistan has been described by his family as a man who was "never prepared to accept less than the best and was always striving for the next challenge".
John 'Jack' Howard, 23, was shot while patrolling with the 3rd Battalion of the British
Parachute Regiment in the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand province.
In a statement, his family said they were "absolutely devastated to lose our son, brother, grandson nephew and cousin.
"Jack was immensely proud to be both a para and a New Zealander," the statement said.
"He was absolutely passionate about what he was doing.
"He was never prepared to accept less than the best and was always striving for the next challenge.
"His decision to try for the paras, which he regarded as the foremost infantry regiment in the world, reflected this drive and passion."
Jack 'his own man'
Mr Howard's family, who are from Wellington, held an emotional press conference at Wellington College this afternoon where he used to go to school.
His mother Anne Scott described Jack as "his own man".
"If he wanted something, he did it," she said.
Jack used to ask her what was for dinner in the morning and "when he didn't like it, he learned to cook".
Jack's father Roger Howard said he was proud that his son had served in the army and in particular had sought the challenge that being a paratrooper offered.
But he said the decision to join the military had come from "left field" because "he was also very good at drama and passionate about Shakespeare".
The family had tried to dissuade Jack from taking up acting because there was not a lot of money in it.
Jack's younger sisters Charlotte and Isabella said they would miss their brother dearly. When asked what they would miss the most, Charlotte said "his presence".
Wellington College principal Roger Moses said Mr Howard was an excellent and well-respected pupil.
"He was a great kid. I wouldn't have a bad word to say about him.
"The family is shattered."
Family 'not entirely unprepared' for news
Roger Howard said that Jack had had many experiences where it had been sheer luck that he had survived.
"On Saturday, his luck ran out," he said.
Mr Howard said he was not entirely unprepared for the news that his son had died.
"He had always told us that's how the news would come and so when we had a knock on the door in the middle of the night, it wasn't unexpected," said Mr Howard.
"Jack came from a loving family with a long military history," the family said in its statement, which was read out at the press conference this afternoon. "He was the fourth generation of our family to serve in the military.
"Jack was well-read and believed strongly in what he was doing. He had an understanding of the conflict he was engaged in and prepared his position robustly.
"However, he never let his profession detract from his humanity.
"Jack died serving alongside some of the great friends he had made in the army," said the statement.
"He comes from a strong and loving family and we miss him dearly."
Family will travel to UK
The British High Commission will assist the family to travel to the United Kingdom immediately so they can be there for the arrival of the body.
Anne Scott expected that her son would have wanted a military service.
The family will then bring him home to New Zealand.
"We will go there (England) and then we will bring him home," she said.
Killed by friendly fire, reports indicate
Mr Howard died as a result of wounds sustained after being shot while patrolling in the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand province, a British Ministry of Defence statement said.
Initial reports indicated he died as a result of friendly fire from American aircraft. The BBC reported two other British soldiers were injured.
The British Ministry of Defence said the soldier's death would be investigated.
"The incident will be the subject of a full investigation; however first reports indicate that an attack on an insurgent position by a US aircraft, requested by and agreed with British forces on the ground, may have been the cause," a spokesperson said.
"The investigation is ongoing and as such it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."
New Zealand Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said he had seen reports that friendly fire was to blame for the soldier's death.
"I know the British Government is undertaking a full investigation, and I am aware of the speculation about what could have happened.
"Obviously since he was serving in the British Army it's the British Government that actually undertakes the investigation. Clearly we are interested in the outcome of that investigation."
Mr Mapp said the Government will provide a full military funeral for Mr Howard if his family requests it.
PM, leader of opposition saddened
Prime Minister John Key said he was contacted by the British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell this morning.
"Obviously it's very sad," Mr Key told reporters.
Labour leader Phil Goff said he felt for the family. Mr Goff's nephew, United States army Captain Matthew Ferrara, 24, was killed in an ambush three years ago.
"Of course having been through that experience myself, my heart goes out to the family of the young man who was killed. We are thinking of that family at this time and extending our condolences and sympathy to them."
Private Howard's website interview
In September, newswire.co.nz published an interview with Private Howard in which he said he joined the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment after seeing an advertisement on the internet.
"I didn't enjoy first year uni, I was doing irrelevant subjects like Philosophy and Italian and I felt burnt out after studying too hard in Seventh Form.
"I had always been interested in the military so I decided to give it a go after I saw an ad for the paratroopers on the internet."
He said he enjoyed serving with the British Army but found it hard living away from his friends and family and planned to return to New Zealand once he finished his service.
Private Howard told the website he was about to start his second tour of Afghanistan and had served in the United States, Kenya, Norway and France.
He said near death experiences were not unusual in Afghanistan and described being fired at when he reached the top of a ridge.
"I'll never forget that feeling - standing on the top and silhouetting myself I quickly drew machine gun fire.
"The whizzing of bullets around me was deafening and blinding, I felt like I was standing in a wind tunnel or in front of a fan after throwing gravel into it. But none of them hit me."
