THE funeral of a soldier who died saving the life of his best friend in Afghanistan was held yesterday.

Family and friends of Private Thomas Sephton, of Warrington, gathered for an emotional ceremony at the town’s St Elphin’s Church to bid farewell to the 20-year-old.

He and childhood friend Private Charlie Emina had been at the head of a patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on July 4 when they were caught in an explosion blast.

Pte Sephton was flown to the UK for emergency treatment, but died the next day at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

In a statement read out at the funeral by the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment’s Major Ronnie Goodwin, Pte Emina said: “Sefo was my closest friend in the world – we were like brothers. He was always the life and soul wherever he went.

“He loved his friends and family more than anything. He was always first out the gate on patrol and had pride doing the job for his country.

“He saved the lives of his section on two occasions, and on that tragic day he saved my life and gave his own.

“He is a true hero to his friends, family and his country.

“As a nation, we owe him a great debt of gratitude.

“I love him with all my heart and I will be lost without him.”

Pte Emina joined his best friend’s parents, Angela and Ian, and hundreds of mourners who lined the streets as Pte Sephton’s coffin, draped in the Union flag, went past.

Many wore fluorescent orange ties or ribbons in recognition of the dead soldier’s favourite colour.

As the service got under way, Pte Sephton’s ceremonial cap was presented to his brother, Daniel, who placed it on the coffin.

After the service, the soldier’s body was taken to Walton Lea Crematorium and crowds of people applauded as he made his final journey through the streets of his home town.

Maj Goodwin added that Pte Sephton was a “star of the regiment”.

He said: “Tom was always at the lead of his patrol and he was very good at looking for IEDs, and unfortunately he was killed by an explosive device.

“In doing so, he saved the lives of a number of soldiers.”