Catterick Army base crush contractor served in Afghanistan

Alistair Ferguson's family said he was "truly honoured to serve his country"

A contractor who was crushed to death at an Army base had undertaken two tours of Afghanistan as a volunteer, his family said.

Alistair Ferguson, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, was working for engineering firm Babcock at nearby Catterick Garrison when he was killed.

Mr Ferguson, 58, was "truly honoured to serve his country", his family said in a tribute.

He was working on a military vehicle when he died earlier this month.

Police said Mr Ferguson was carrying out maintenance to a 27-tonne Wolfhound troop carrier at Piave Road Barracks on 18 January when he was trapped by a door and died.

A Wolfhound is an armoured 6x6 vehicle and one is shown here on driver training in Afghanistan

While working for Babcock he had volunteered to be deployed on the tours of Afghanistan, his family said.

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Mr Ferguson was "a selfless and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend" and had a "positive attitude", they added.

"This tragic death should not have happened and we hope that no family ever has to go through this again."

An investigation by North Yorkshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive is under way.