An explosives expert broke down as he told an inquest how he could have done more to save the life of a Birmingham soldier.

Corporal Robert Deering, from Solihull, died when he triggered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during a pivotal operation in Helmand Province, in Afghanistan.

The 33-year-old, who had served in the Royal Marines’ Logisitics Regiment for more than 11 years, was picking up tools to help clear a bombed vehicle from the road when he tripped the booby trap.

At least 25 vehicles in the convoy and 20 soldiers had passed by the bomb before Cpl Deering triggered a pressure plate.

The force of the blast, which took place during a crucial mission to build patrol bases in the Nad-E’ali district, propelled him into a nearby canal killing him instantly.

Sergeant Jason Rose fought back tears at the inquest at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, when he blamed himself for not doing more.

The explosives specialist was one of only four experts serving with the British Army in Afghanistan at the time with enough training and experience to conduct widescale searches for hidden bombs.

Sgt Rose, a marine with the Royal Engineers, said: “I won’t lie, I could have searched the whole route.

“I’ve no doubt that myself and other marines would have been injured but Rob, bless him, would be here now. I made that assessment.”

Cpl Deering’s mother Karen Waspe and his step-father Peter, who live in Tamworth, said Sgt Rose should not blame himself.

Mrs Waspe said: “The sergeant blames himself still but we hold no blame on him whatsoever.

“I don’t feel he could have done anymore. He did what he could.”Sgt Rose also conceeded there was ‘limited information’ about the perceived threat of IEDs on the morning of the fateful mission in December 2008.

Speaking after the hearing, Rob’s father Dave Deering said: “He died trying to make this world a safer place for us all.”

The coroner Aidan Cotter declared Cpl Deering died as a result of blast injuries.