A Forres man who died after a Taliban attack in Afghanistan on Tuesday was hailed as a hero when it was revealed he had ushered people to safety before being shot trying to protect them.
Former soldier Mark Duffus was one of seven people killed in the pre-dawn attack in Kabul. The father of a 13-year-old, Mr Duffus had been working as a security consultant when a suicide bomber drove to the Nato supply compound he was helping to protect.
Reports indicate that Mr Duffus ushered people to safety before the bomb was set off, killing two truck drivers in the location. In the immediate aftermath three Taliban insurgents broke into the compound and opened fire, during the resulting battle Mr Duffus and four Nepalese security guards were killed alongside the three insurgents.
Speaking from his home in Forres Mr Duffus’ father, Albert, hailed his son as a hero, saying: “He saved two lives and died doing a job that he loved, I am very proud of him.
“It was always in the back of our minds that something might happen out there, but Mark liked his job, working eight weeks out there and them coming home for four. He lived for his daughter and when he was back home would spend all his time with her.”
Mr Duffus said that the family had been “overwhelmed” by the support they had received from people in Forres.
Mark Duffus’ body is due to be flown home from Afghanistan within the next two weeks.